At least 26 bodies have so far been recovered following a bus plunge into the Padma River while boarding a ferry at Daulatdia in Rajbari district yesterday.

Among the deceased, there are 11 women, eight men and seven children. Of them, 22 bodies have already been handed over to their families.

Deputy Director of Rajbari Fire Service and Civil Defence Dewan Sohel Rana confirmed the information at 11:25am today.

Our rescue operation is still ongoing, he said.

Recovery operations were carried out by four units, including 10 divers, with support from the army, police, BIWTC, Coast Guard, and local administration, the fire service said.

So far, the identities of 24 victims have been confirmed. They are Rehena Akhter, 61; Marzina Khatun, 56; Rajib Biswas, 28; Zahura Anti, 27; Kazi Saif, 30; Marzina Akhter, 32; Israfil, 3; Safia Akhter Rinthi, 12; Faiz Shahanur, 11; Tajbid, 7; Arman Khan, 31; Najmira Jesmin, 30; Lima Akhter, 26; Jochna, 35; Mukta Khanam, 38; Nasima, 40; Ayesha Akhter Suma, 30; Soha Akhter, 11; Ayesha Siddika, 13; Arman, 7 months; Abdur Rahman, 6; Sabit Hasan, 8; Ahnaf Tahmid Khan, 25; and Ujjal Sheikh, 40.

Rajbari's Assistant Commissioner & Executive Magistrate Md Hafizur Rahman said the district administration is providing Tk 25,000 to each bereaved family and Tk 15,000 to each of the injured.

Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a five-member committee to investigate the cause of the accident. The panel is headed by Additional District Magistrate Uchen Mey and includes Md Shamsul Haque, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations); Mohammad Salah Uddin, Assistant General Manager of the BIWTC Daulatdia office; Dewan Sohel Rana, Deputy Director of Rajbari Fire Service and Civil Defence; and Sathi Das, Goalanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer, who will serve as the member secretary.

According to the office order, the committee has been asked to submit its report to the deputy commissioner within three working days.