The death toll from a passenger bus plunging into the Padma River at Daulatdia ghat in Goaland upazila rose to 26 as of 11:42am on Thursday.

Talha Bin Zasim, media cell officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, said in a text message that 24 bodies were recovered from the bus. Of them, 11 were women, eight were men and five were children, including four boys and one girl.

In total, 26 bodies have been recovered so far—23 by the Fire Service, two by local residents, and one by a Bangladesh Navy diving team. Two of the victims had earlier been declared dead at Goaland Upazila Health Complex.

Shajahan Sikder, officer-in-charge of the media cell at the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, said in a text message around 2:00am that firefighters had so far recovered 16 bodies from the submerged bus.

‘Of them, 10 were women, four were men and two were children,’ he said, adding that the identities of the victims could not be confirmed immediately.

Earlier, two women—Rehana, 60, and Morzina, 55—were declared dead at Goaland Upazila Health Complex, raising the total fatalities to 18.

The bus, operated by Sauhardya Paribahan, plunged into the Padma River while boarding a ferry at the No. 3 terminal around 5:20pm on Wednesday. The Dhaka-bound bus from Kumarkhali in Kushtia reportedly lost control and fell into the river, which is about 30 feet deep at the point of the accident.

Resident Medical Officer of Goaland Upazila Health Complex, Shariful Islam, said four injured passengers were taken to the hospital after the incident, where two were declared dead. A physician named Nusrat is currently undergoing treatment, while another victim, Shiuli, was released after receiving primary care, he added around 9:30pm.

Monir Hossain, a ticket checker of Sauhardya Paribahan at the ferry ghat, said the 40-seat bus was fully occupied at the time of the incident.

A survivor, Kalam Hossain, said, ‘I was in the bus. I got out and was standing on the pontoon. Shortly after, in the blink of an eye, the bus with passengers sank into the river. My backpack and valuable papers were in the bus and I lost everything. All the seats were occupied. Although four to five passengers managed to get out and were rescued, the others sank.’

Local residents rescued several passengers immediately after the accident, while fire service divers continued search operations through the night.

In separate statements, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and the shipping ministry said that all relevant agencies—including fire service, diving teams, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, naval police, army and local administration—were engaged in the rescue operation.

While supervising operations at the scene, state minister for shipping Md Rajib Ahsan said that 16 bodies had been recovered as of 1:00am, according to a shipping ministry press release.

He said two probe committees had been formed to investigate the cause of the accident. One committee, headed by the additional district magistrate of Rajbari, will submit its report within three to four working days. Another five-member committee, led by shipping ministry additional secretary Mohidul Islam, will submit its report within three working days.

The minister said the joint rescue operation involving BIWTA, fire service and coast guard would continue overnight, with a wider search planned in daylight.

He added that work Is underway to prepare a list of the missing. After identification, bodies will be handed over to relatives through the district administration and the civil surgeon.

The district administration is providing an initial financial assistance of Tk 25,000 for each victim’s burial. Relatives of the missing have been urged to contact the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office or the district commissioner’s office.