At least 10 people including four women were killed and 20 were missing on Saturday after an overcrowded boat capsized in Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.
A police officer said 10 bodies were recovered so far while a search was on for the missing people. The boat was carrying 70 people,
mostly pilgrims. Locals rescued 40 passengers.
The incident took place at Upputeru in Narsapuram mandal of West Godavari district, near the mouth of the river. The pilgrims were going to Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple, also known as Antarvedi temple, in East Godavari district on the other side of the river.
The police officer said the boat was carrying more people than its capacity, which led to the accident. It reportedly hit an empty boat before capsizing.
Authorities launched large-scale rescue and relief operations. Divers were pressed into service to search for the missing people while special boats were also arriving from Visakhapatnam and Rajhamundry.
Joint collector Ronald Ross, who visited the scene, had to face the ire of the relatives of victims. He assured that all efforts would be made to search for the missing people.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah expressed shock and grief over the tragedy. He directed the minister in charge of the district Vatti Vasant Kumar to rush to the scene and monitor rescue and relief operations.