Alarming ‘Act of God’ in Andhra Pradesh’s swollen Godavari pulls 73 to death valley; Recovery underway

In a tragic incident after a boat carrying 73 people capsized in the swollen Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, the toll rose to 12 with the recovery of four more deceased including that of an infant, on Monday morning.

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With 21 more people missing, extensive search operations are being carried out by Indian Navy, NDRF, SDRF and state authorities. While bodies of eight passengers were recovered from the river till Sunday night, a helicopter of the Indian Navy and another of the ONGC have been pressed into service while eight boats are being used by NDRF and SDRF personnel to search for the people feared drowned.

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The boat ‘Royal Vasishta’ was on its way to the picturesque Papikondalu tourist spot in the middle of the river when it met with the accident, apparently on colliding with a large rock formation, at Kachchuluru, about 200 km from here. The survivors were taken to the area hospital in Rampachodavaram and government general hospital in Rajamahendravaram for treatment.

Most of the tourists were from Hyderabad and Warangal in neighbouring Telangana and state chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the bereaved families from his state and deputed ministers to coordinate in the relief works and help the injured.

COURTESY:- NEWS BHARATI