Shawdesh desk:

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has expressed profound shock and sorrow at the loss of lives and injuries to passengers in Jhalakathi launch fire.

In a condolence message sent to his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen, Jaishankar himself and on behalf of the Indian government expressed the shock and prayed for salvation of the departed souls and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families, said a press release on Monday.

He also prayed for early recovery of the injured people and return to families soon after getting well.

At least 40 people were killed and several others injured as a launch plying on Dhaka-Barguna route carrying hundreds of passengers caught fire on Sugandha River in Gabkhan-Dhansiri area under Sadar upazila in Jhalakathi on December 24.