DHAKA: At least 12 people were killed when a ferry, carrying between 250 to 300 passengers, capsized in a river in Bangladesh Thursday due to a storm, police said.
The ferry capsized in Meghna river in Munshiganj, 27 km from Dhaka, Xinhua reported.
"Twelve bodies have been recovered from the sunken ferry," said Ferdous Hossain, an officer-in-charge of Gajaria police station of the district.
Many passengers were able to swim ashore after the accident in the afternoon, Hossain said, but could not immediately tell how many passengers were missing.
The official said a search operation was under way and a rescue vessel had been called in to boost local efforts to salvage the ferry.
Estimates varied as to how many people were on board the ferry. Hossain put the number at close to 300, while another official who requested anonymity said about 200 people were on board.