Godavari boat capsize: Navy intensifies search ops to trace missing people

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 15 (ANI): The Indian Navy has intensified search operations to trace the six people who went missing after a boat capsized in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district.

The missing persons include five girls and a woman.

According to Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, 26 passengers have been rescued so far.

A team comprising of 30 members from the State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department began a search operation at the accident spot using boats and high-powered lamps. In addition to this, Navy also dispatched a diving team to augment search and rescue operations.

An Additional diving team was also dispatched to Rajahmundry by a second Dornier aircraft to further intensify search efforts.

One naval helicopter UH3H has been positioned at Rajahmundry Airport this morning and will be joining search operation once the weather clears up in the search area. At present, the search efforts are being affected due to inclement weather at the incident area.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party's national spokesperson Lanka Dinakaran called the incident "unfortunate" and promised action against the boat operator .

Six people went missing after a boat, which was travelling from Talarivaripalem to Pashuvulanka, capsized in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday.

The boat, which was carrying around 32 people, rammed into a pillar of an under construction bridge.

26 people are safe, out of which two have been hospitalised, while six people are reportedly missing.

The boat was carrying mostly students, under the age of 15. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI