Dhaka: At least 26 people have been killed in a collision between a passenger ferry and a cargo ship in Bangladesh.

According to the foreign news agency, the incident took place in the river Shitalkhsia, south of the capital Dhaka.

Authorities say 50 people were on board the ferry and several are missing after the crash. In this regard, 21 bodies have been recovered yet.

According to the details, most of the bodies were recovered from the sinking ferry. Whereas Police and officials said some of the passengers managed to swim to shore.

Relatives of the victims gathered by the river in search of their loved ones.

Rescue workers, including divers of the fire brigade, carried search operation for survivors while efforts were hampered by the storm last night.

Large numbers of people boarded the passenger boat after the government announced a long nationwide lockdown from Monday to Saturday in the wake of a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.

Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in a launch capsize in #Shitalakkhya River, Bangladesh. Heartfelt condolences to the govt. and brotherly people of Bangladesh and the bereaved families.

— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) April 5, 2021

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Foreign office expressed regret over the “loss of precious lives” in the incident.

Pakistan foreign office offered his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Bangladesh and the bereaved families.

In February 2015, at least 78 people died when an overcrowded ship collided with a cargo boat in a central Bangladesh river.

The number of accidents has dropped sharply in recent years as authorities crackdown on unseaworthy vessels.

Hundreds of people die each year in ferry accidents in Bangladesh, a low-lying country that has extensive inland waterways but lax safety standards.