FROM MAWA GHAT: The rescue drive have been continuing for the fourth-day in the full swing on Thursday to recover the launch, Pinak-6, which drowned on Monday along with almost 230 passengers.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Bangladesh Navy have been jointly conducting the drive after the incident.

A special rescue ship, Kandari-2, joined rescue operation in the incident spot from the Mawa ghat since Wednesday midnight. Bangladesh Coast Guard and fire service units also started to join the rescue drive.

Though, Kandari-2 started their primary search from Wednesday midnight. It will search till eight Kilometer from the spot and the authorities hoped that the ship would be able to trace the Pinak-6 as it can mark out through the water under 70 feet and through the sand 18 feet.

Director Commander of Kandari-2 Manjur said they will search the launch measuring time and speed of the stream.

If the rescue ship failed to trace the drowned ship, the authorities will call Jarip- 11 which is the latest modern ship to rescue Pinak-6.

Till Thursday, the rescue teams recovered 23 bodies from the Padma and Meghna rivers. Amongst them 11 bodies were handed over to their relatives while many more still remained missing. 

BDST: 0918 HRS, HRS, AUG 7, 2014