By IANS,
Hyderabad : At least 11 people including four women and four children were killed and 19 were missing Saturday after an overcrowded boat capsized in Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.
Police said 11 bodies had been recovered while a search was on for the missing people. The boat was carrying 70 people, mostly pilgrims. Officials said 40 passengers either swam to safety or were rescued by local people.
The accident 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.
A 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. Navy helicopters and boats were pressed into service to search for the missing people.
The state government has announced compensation of Rs.100,000 to the families of each of those killed. Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, who is also the in charge minister for West Godavari, announced the compensation here.
Earlier, 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 and asked Rural Development Minister Vatti Vasant Kumar to rush to the scene and monitor the rescue and relief operations.