The capsizing of a ferry boat packed with hundreds of people in the Brahmputra river in northeastern India has killed at least 40, and the death toll is expected to rise. The accident has once again raised concerns about the safety of South Asia’s ferries, which often operate with no safety equipment and too many passengers. In watery parts of India and neighboring Bangladesh, these ferries are sometimes the only method of transport because roads and bridges are scarce. Accidents are common:

 

The capsizing of a ferry boat packed with hundreds of people in the Brahmputra river in northeastern India has killed at least 40, and the death toll is expected to rise. The accident has once again raised concerns about the safety of South Asia’s ferries, which often operate with no safety equipment and too many passengers. In watery parts of India and neighboring Bangladesh, these ferries are sometimes the only method of transport because roads and bridges are scarce. Accidents are common:
India:
December 25, 2011: In Tamil Nadu, 22 members of a family were killed when a ferry boat carrying 25 capsized near Pulicat lake backwaters in Chennai.
October 31, 2010: More than 18 people were killed and several others were reported missing after an overloaded ferry boat carrying about 150 people capsized in the Buriganga river in West Bengal.
October 11, 2010: Near the capital of Bihar, Patna, 36 people drowned to death and more than 15 went missing when a ferry boat capsized in the Ganges. The boat was carrying about 80 passengers.
June 14, 2010: In Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, 62 people were killed when a ferry boat carrying around 80 people capsized in the Ganges.
Bangladesh:
March 13, 2012 : More than 139 people drowned to death when a ferry boat carrying 200 people capsized into the Meghna river, south of Bangladesh capital city Dhaka.
April 21, 2011: In Brahmanbaria district in southeast Bangladesh, a crowded ferry carrying about 100 passengers capsized in a river, leaving more than 27 people dead and dozens missing.

December 4, 2009: More than 46 people were killed when a ferry boat capsized and sunk after colliding with another boat in Daria river, 62 miles north of the capital Dhaka.
November 27, 2009: More than 72 people died and scores went missing after a ferry carrying about 1,000 travelers sunk in the Tetulia river in southern Bangladesh.