Official sources have indicated that the death toll in the Godavari boat tragedy increased to 12. Four more bodies, including that of an infant, were recovered on Monday morning. 21 more people are believed to be missing. While 8 bodies were recovered from the river till Saturday night, 4 other passengers were found dead at the accident spot at Kachhuluru in East Godavari district. The Indian Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other state authorities are carrying out extensive search operations. 8 boats of the NDRF and SDRF along with one helicopter of the Indian Navy and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) each have been deployed to search for the missing persons.  

Read: Andhra Pradesh: Boat Capsizes In Godavari, Rescue Operation Underway

Local villagers rescue people

The accident happened when the boat ‘Royal Vasishta’ was on its way to the famous Papikondalu tourist spot in the middle of the Godavari river. Reports suggest that it collided with a large rock formation about 200 km away. The precise location of the accident was Kachchuluru. The residents of Tutugunta village rescued about 27 people, who managed to survive the tragedy. The survivors were taken to a hospital in Rampachodavaram and government general hospital in Rajamahendravaram for treatment.

To avoid the bodies from getting washed away downstream, the crest gates of the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowaleswaram have been shut.

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The PM and other leaders pay condolences

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow on the capsizing of the boat in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district. He said that the rescue operations were underway at the site of the accident. President Ram Nath Kovind also issued a statement, sympathizing with the families of the bereaved.

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Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao announced Rs. 5,00,000 each to the bereaved families and directed his ministers to coordinate in the relief works. This is because most of the tourists were from Hyderabad and Warangal in Telangana. On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy conducted an aerial survey of the accident spot.

(With PTI inputs)

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