11 persons were missing from Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: 11 persons from Visakhapatnam district were missing in the boat capsizal incident occurred at Kachhuluru at Devipatnam mandal of East Godavari district on Sunday.

However, one person was rescued. Among others, Madhupada Ramana Babu, M. Aruna Kumari, M. Akilesh, M. Kushali and M. Pushpa belonging to the same family at Rama Lakshmi Colony were missing.

It is learnt that all of them headed to Rajamahendravaram from Visakhapatnam at 4 a.m. by train and from there they went to Papi Kondalu where the boat in which they were travelling overturned.

However, sources said that only B. Lakshmi had a miraculous escape and was sent to a hospital, while the whereabouts of the others are yet to be traced. A team of 50 members planned to go to the same destination last month but did not continue with their plan due to heavy rains.

A special control room was set up for the purpose at the District Collector's office. District Collector V. Vinay Chand said that any information related to those who got drowned in the mishap can be passed on to the toll-free no: 180042500002 or 0891-2590100 or 0891-2590102.

Minister for Tourism M. Srinivasa Rao made it clear that the boat which met with the mishap in Godavari river did not have any approval or permissions from the tourism department.

He said the Royal Vasista boat that drowned in Godavari in spate was run by a private person named Kodigudla Venkataramana and had no approval from the government. Meanwhile, the tourism department officials got down to rescue the victims who were drowned in the river.

Indian Navy, SDRF, NDRF teams were swung into action to carry out rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam MP MVV Satyanarayana has expressed shock over the death of the victims in the boat tragedy.

Conveying condolences to the bereaved family members, the MP called off his birthday celebrations scheduled at various places on Monday.