The death toll from a bus accident at Daulatdia ferry ghat in Rajbari has risen to 18 after the rescue of the vehicle from the Padma River late on Wednesday night.

The passenger bus, which plunged into the river while boarding a ferry, was lifted approximately after six hours by the rescue vessel Hamza. Parts of the bus became visible around 11:15pm, and it was fully hauled above water using a crane by about 11:30pm.

According to the Fire Service, at least 16 bodies were recovered from inside the bus. Earlier, an assistant commissioner and executive magistrate from the Rajbari district had confirmed the recovery of 14 bodies around 12:50am.

The overall death toll later rose to 18 after two of the injured were taken to Goaland Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty doctors declared them dead.

A Fire Service media update said the recovered bodies included two children, 10 women and four men.

The accident occurred at around 5:15pm on Wednesday when a Dhaka-bound passenger bus lost control and fell into the river from the pontoon at Daulatdia ghat. The bus had started its journey from Kumarkhali in Kushtia with only six passengers, but additional passengers boarded along the way. Counter officials said there were at least 50 passengers on board at the time of the accident.

Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Sultana Akter told reporters that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had called to inquire about the situation and instructed authorities to take swift action and keep him informed.

She added that steps were underway to form a high-level probe committee comprising representatives from the district administration, BIWTA, BIWTC and the police to investigate the incident.