Unauthorized Boat Capsized in the Godavari, Killing Many

A boat carrying 63 passengers including 11 crew members capsized near Devipatnam in East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. According to the information available, 12 were dead and 24 passengers managed to reach the coast safely. The boat ‘Royal Vasista’ is said to be operating without any permission and is on its way to Papikondalu.

They had started from the Gandi Pochamma temple near Devipatnam and the boat reportedly capsized near Kachhuluru. The government sought ONGC choppers for the search operations. The boat is already overloaded and many of them are not wearing the life-jackets.

Unconfirmed Rumours in Social Media are that the boat belonged to a Ruling Party Leader. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered the officials to stop all the boats from going into the River unless complete fitness tests are done.

In July 2018, a boat carrying 40 passengers had also capsized in the Godavari. Interestingly, there were two incidents of boat capsizing at the same place Kachalur. In 1960, a boat got capsized killing 60 people and in another incident, eight got killed in another boat capsize.