At Least 14 Dead As Boat Capsizes In River Krishna In Andhra Pradesh

Amravati:  A boat overloaded with tourists overturned in Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh this evening, resulting in the death of 16 people. A search is on for the rest, the police said. The accident took place near Vijaywada, 275 km from the state capital Hyderabad, at 5.45 pm.
   
Altogether, 34 people were on the boat, which belonged to a private tourism company. Sources said the boat did not have a licence to operate. One of the rescued persons said there were no life jackets on board. The boatman, who is among the survivors, say no life jackets are needed on this stretch. Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa, who is overseeing rescue operations at the spot, has asked the police to rush in additional forces. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force, each with 30 members, have been pressed into service to search for the survivors, a senior police officer said.

A 45-members team from the State Disaster Relief Forces and the fire service teams are also at work.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, leader of opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy and other leaders have expressed grief over the tragedy.