Vijayawada: In an overloaded boat carrying 38 persons in the Krishna river near Vijayawada Capsizes, resulting in the death of 16 tourists while seven others have disappeared, Police said on Sunday evening.
The Local fishermen had rescued fifteen people, a private company had operated a crash boat and was said to be a test run. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and Krishna District Administration have launched a massive search and rescue operation to find the missing people.
The Tourism Minister, Bhuma Akhila, Priya ordered an inquiry into the incident and instructed its department officials to give instructions, whether there is an expected permission of the boat operator. This incident happened when the boat set off for the Pavitra Sangamam in Bhavani Island near the Ferry village near Vijaywada, police said.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police said, “The boat was overloaded with 38 Persons and most of them were not given the life jacket, it would have been given to a curve as it came from a Pavitra Sangamam point and most people were trapped below were killed. That, Most of the passengers were considered to be members of the Ongole Walkers Club in Prakasam district, while others belonged to Nellore who were on Vijaywada tour. The Local fishermen immediately took action on the ferry and saved 15 passengers, Later, 16 bodies were removed from the river.
The state’s disaster rescue force (SDRF) consists of 45 members and 30 NDRF personnel. A rescue operation has been conducted with 60 members of the Disaster Response and Fire Services Department.
The Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, Dy. CM N. China Rajappa, the Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy and others expressed sorrow over the incident.
The Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa, who was monitoring the rescue operation at the accident site, announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh to the relatives of the deceased. The Two persons, who were rescued from the tragedy, complained to the sickness and they were taken to a government hospital in Vijayawada, officials said.
The Pradesh Congress Committee President N Raghuveer Reddy visited the accident site and later in the hospital. One of the deceased was identified as Prabhakar Reddy, who was former president of the BJP’s Prakandham district unit.
