The number of people killed by a boat capsizing in the Karatoa river under Boda upazila in Panchagarh has risen to 64, while at least 12 people still remain missing, the authorities said on Tuesday.

The district administration said that a joint rescue operation of police and fire service, stretching up to 80 kilometres downstream amid strong currents in the river, would continue until all bodies were found.

The small boat, carrying approximately 100 passengers, mostly Hindu devotees from Marea union under Boda upazila, sank in the river Karatoa on Sunday afternoon, minutes after it sailed from the Awaliar Ghat area in the district.

The boat was travelling to Bordeshwari temple in Boroshashi union in the same upazila on the occasion of Malalaya.

Panchagarh additional deputy commissioner Dipankar Roy told New Age that 13 bodies were found till 12:30pm on Tuesday in different areas in the Karatoa river downstream.

Dipankar, also in-charge of a control room set up by the Panchagarh district administration, said that they were assuming that at least 12 people remained missing.

Relatives of the missing passengers were seen waiting in the control room and beside the river with teary eyes and heavy hearts to get the bodies.

The railways minister, Nurul Islam Sujan, on Tuesday, visited the spot.