Death toll from Bangladesh ferry sinking reaches 49

DHAKA Nov 29 (Reuters) - The death toll from an overcrowded ferry that sank in Bangladesh two days ago rose to 49, officials said on Sunday, with rescuers saying many more victims were still trapped trapped inside the vessel.

A rescue vessel had reached the river mouth where the M.V. Coco-4 sank on Friday night, some 300 km (185 miles) from Dhaka, on Sunday.

"Grieving relatives of the dead and missing were helping divers and volunteers trying to locate and drag out the bodies," a witness told Reuters by telephone from the scene.

The ferry was sailing to the coastal town of Bhola with around 1,500 people on board -- almost three times more than its registered capacity.

Survivors told Bangladeshi media the ferry started taking in water after hitting a raised section of the river bed in heavy fog. The vessel listed heavily to one side as panicked passengers scrambled to escape.

Most of the passengers were going home to celebrate the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival on Saturday.

Hundreds of people die in ferry accidents in Bangladesh almost every year. But Friday's accident was the worst mishap for the past two years. (Reporting by Anis Ahmed; Editing by Paul Tait) (anis.ahmed@thomsonreuters.com; 880-1819-221594))