At least sixteen people were reported dead and another 20 were missing as an over crowded boat capsized in Uppateru channel of the Godavari river in West Godavari district on Saturday morning.
Nearly 80 people were traveling in the boat to Antarvedi from Biyyatippu in Narsapur mandal when it went down. 44 people were saved by the villagers of the area. Apart from the police and revenue departments teams, Navy personnel have also been pressed into service for the search and rescue operation.
The people from Mogalturu and couple of other villages were going to perform Pooja on the full moon day. 16 bodies recovered so far include four children and five women. Officials said that overcrowding of the boat seems to be the cause of the disaster.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah expressed his shock and grief over the accident and assured that the government will extend assistance to the affected families. He also ordered a high level inquiry in to the accident. Minister for rural development Vatti Vasantha Kumar, who belong to the district has rushed to the scene of the accident to over see the rescue and relief work.
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