At least 12 people died in the boat capsize in the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh with searches still on for 10 other missing passengers, feared drowned, officials said on May 16.
The State government announced an ex-gratia of ?10 lakh each to the kin of the victims of the mishap that happened on May 15 near Manturu village in East Godavari district with bad weather considered a probable cause.
Rescue teams that toiled for hours, to first trace the sunken boat and later to pull it ashore, have so far recovered 12 bodies, including that of two children, officials said. Efforts were still on to trace the other 10, they said.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who visited the accident spot, said human error was the main reason for the mishap and assured that those guilty would be brought to book. “There was gale yesterday and the boat was also laden with cement bags and two-wheelers. That caused the mishap. We will not spare anyone responsible for the incident,” he said.
Though a warning about the inclement weather was issued at least half an hour in advance, there was no communication system in the boat to receive it, Mr. Naidu said. He also announced government job would be provided to an eligible person each from the families of the victims and a house would also be built for them.
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At least 13 persons swam to safety after the boat capsized because of strong winds, West Godavari Superintendent of Police Ravi Prakash said. The boat which got stuck in the sand of the riverbed at a depth of at least 40 feet was pulled ashore on May 16.
Besides the Navy, personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, fire service, revenue and police departments are involved in the search and rescue operations.
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