Death toll rises to 21 after boat capsized in Krishna River of Andhra Pradesh; PM Modi condoles
Amravati, November 13: Around 21 people dead when the oversize boat capsized in Andhra’s Krishna River. The private boat was travelling from Bhavani Island to Pavitra Sangamam at the time of the incident. Today, Home Minister Chinna Rajappa announced an ex gratia of Rs 8 lakh for all the victims, with an additional Rs 2 lakh for those coming under the Chandranna Bima Padhakam scheme.
Members of the Ongole Walkers Club had travelled to old Amaravati to take an auspicious Karthika dip in the Krishna River and perform pujas at the ancient Amareswara Temple. They had travelled to Bhavani Island by an AP Tourism Development Corporation boat. In the evening, they decided to go to Pavitra Sangamam. They inquired with the APTDC regarding the availability of a boat, but were told that the boat service had been stopped due to poor light in the evening. The group then contacted Simple Water Sports and requested a boat. The driver of the boat agreed to take them to Pavithra Sangamam at a cost of Rs 300 per head. The boat had a carrying capacity of only 30 persons, but the operators loaded on 38 passengers in violation of safety norms.
Even though passengers insistently asked for life jackets, the boat driver reportedly refused to provide them, claiming that they were unnecessary because the journey was a very short one.
One of the survivors said, "We asked the driver for life jackets, but he kept on telling us that nothing will happen. The boat driver initially managed to keep the boat still when it was about to overturn. But within a short span of time it overturned.”
The survivor added that they and others were rescued thanks to the timely actions of nearby fishermen. “I don’t know how many more people were there in the boat. I and my wife are extremely thankful to fishermen. They saved us,” the traumatised survivor said.
Two 30-member rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, 45 members from the State Disaster Response Force and 12 rescue boats have been plied in to the search for the missing passengers. They were able to save 17 people.