80 tourists escape narrowly as boat in Andhra catches fire

At least 80 tourists, including children and old people, had a narrow escape when a private boat carrying them caught fire in the middle of the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district on Friday morning.

Preliminary investigations revealed that flames from the stove in the boat’s kitchen spread to the generator due to the wind. The boat had no licence from the tourism department but was operating with the permission from the irrigation department.

The tourists were going on a picnic to Papikondalu, where the river meanders through a narrow passage between two picturesque hills. Eyewitnesses told local media that the boat started off at Rajahmundry in the morning and the passengers had halted at Pochamma Gandi, a pilgrim centre in Veerapulanka village.

“After some time, the boat started off again and the crew members began serving breakfast. A few minutes later, some of the tourists noticed thick smoke coming out of the engine from beneath the boat and alerted the staff. Within no time, flames started coming out of it,” one of the tourists on the boat said.

The driver immediately diverted the boat to a nearby small island between Pudipalli and Veerapulanka within five minutes and other crew members tried to calm down the passengers, who were shouting in panic.

“Most of the passengers swam to the shore while the boat staff managed to bring the remaining passengers safely to the bank,” the tourist added.

The boat was completely gutted after all the passengers got down. Policemen in speedboats from the Devipatnam police station and some people from villages nearby reached the spot.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the district officials to provide medical aid to those injured and also ordered an inquiry into the mishap.

HYDERABAD: