4 more bodies recovered, bus salvaged

Two of the bodies were found trapped inside the bus when it was lifted from the river in the morning. Local people and police feared that more passengers might still be missing.

However, the police put the death toll at 17.

The bus belonging to Sunmoon Travels with about 50 passengers aboard plunged into the river while crossing the Kichak Bhanga Bridge at Kichak in Shibganj upazila at around 2:15pm on Saturday.

In the wake of such a disaster, transport workers have suspended bus services on Bogra-Joypurhat routes fearing attacks on vehicles by agitating people.

All buses were off the roads yesterday, causing suffering to commuters.

Hundreds of people yesterday gathered on both banks of the river and on the bridge in search of their missing relatives.

The bus driver and helper are still missing. But source said the driver had escaped after receiving first aid treatment from the Joypurhat Kalai Upazila Health Complex.