11 dead after tourist boat carrying 61 people capsizes in Godavari

Mangalore Today News Network

Amravati, Sept 15, 2019: A tourist boat capsized in the Godavari River in Devipatnnam in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday resulting in the death of at least 11 people. The death toll is likely to go up, said the authorities. According to reports, the boat was carrying at least 63 people onboard at the time of the incident.

There were 63 people on board the boat, operated by the state tourism board, and 23 of them have been rescued, authorities said.

The boat had started off for the picturesque Papikondalu mountain range, a prime tourist destination, from Gandi Pochamma Temple near Devipatnam, news agency PTI reported.

The accident took place near Kacchuluru village in Devipatnam Mandal.

Helicopters of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and teams of the National Disaster Response Force or NDRF have been called in to help with the rescue.

Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy spoke with officials about rescue efforts.

The Godavari River has swelled in the past few days with over 5 lakh cusecs of floodwater flowing on Sunday afternoon when the incident took place.

The incident comes days after one in Madhya Pradesh where 11 people drowned during an idol immersion at the end of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.