Dhaka: A massive blaze sparked in a passenger ferry caused for the death of 30 people over 200 others injured in Bangladesh. According to the official sources that 70 passengers on board the ill fated Barguna bound MV Abhijan – 10 have been rescued so far, while many others remain missing.

As per the police and fire personnel, the blaze broke out at around 3 a.m. when the ferry reached the Dapdapia area on the Sugandha River in Jhalakathi. Kamal Hossain Bhuiyan, deputy director of Barisal Fire Service, confirmed the news and said that a total of 30 dead bodies recovered and five units were working to rescue the fire victims.

Rescue operations are being hampered due to heavy fog. Bhuiyan added that authorities suspect the fire may have started in the ferry’s engine room. Md Johar Ali, DC of Jhalakathi said that the 70 rescued people have been sent to nearby hospitals. Many passengers jumped into the river in a desperate bid to save their lives as the fire raged for about three hours, that the ferry was packed with passengers when the accident occurred.