8 killed, dozens go missing as boat capsizes in Godavari
HYDERABAD: At least eight people were killed and over two dozen were reported missing when a private sightseeing boat carrying 60 people capsized in the Godavari River near Devipatnam in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district on Sunday, rescue officials said.
While 27 people were rescued by members of NDRF and local villagers, eight bodies were recovered as of late Sunday evening, officials said. Rescue operations, however, were hampered due to heavy flow of water and darkness.
The boat — Royal Vashishta — was operating without a licence and had around 60 people on board, according to a government statement. It was ferrying passengers from Gandi Pochamma temple near Rajahmundry to Papikondalu hill range, a popular tourist spot.
Rescued passengers were shifted to a government hospital at Rampachodavaram, superintendent of police (East Godavari), Adnan Nayeem Asmi, said.
State home minister Mekathoti Sucharita said tour boats had been barred from operating on the route following the recent flooding of the river and it was not clear how the boat managed to venture out with tourists. “The Godavari has been in spate due to fresh floods for the last one week… Stern action will be taken against the culprits,” Sucharita said.
As of Sunday night, state officials did not provide information about any case being registered over the matter.
State tourism minister Muthamsetty Srinivasa Rao said the capsized boat did not have a licence from the tourism department. The boat capsized around 1.20pm, minutes after the crew served lunch to the passengers on board.