Barisal: Fourteen bodies were recovered after a ferry capsized in Shandhya River at Banaripara in Barisal on Wednesday.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) deputy director (river safety and traffic management) Mostafizur Rahman confirmed the death toll.

However, some 13 passengers are still missing, he said.

Five of the deceased were identified. They are Sukhdeb Mallik, 35, of Ujirpur, Sagar, 15, Monwara Begum, 45, of Banaripara upazila in the district.

Earlier, divers recovered the body of Kohinur Begum, 40, hailing from Banaripara, in the morning, while Saleha Begum,60, who was rescued from the river died at the upazila health complex.

Earlier in the day, the Uzirpur-bound ferry ‘ML Oishi’ from Banaripara, with 60-70 passengers on board sank in the river in Banaripara upazila of the district as a heavy chunk of mud from the erosion site on the riverbank fell on the vessel just after it reached Dasherhat Ferry Terminal at about 11:15am, said Banaripara police officer-in-charge Ziaul Islam.

Of the passengers, several managed to swim ashore after the incident.

Deputy Commissioner of the district Gazi Saifuzzaman visited the spot and announced to provide Tk 10,000 to the families of each of the deceased, UNB reported.