11 people fear drown in Tandava

Hyderabad, February 01: In yet another boat tragedy, 11 people were feared drowned as a country-made boat capsized in Tandava reservoir in Andhra Pradesh today.

This was the second boat mishap after yesterday’s incident, which claimed 11 lives in West Godavari district in the state.

The mishap occurred when 14 villagers of Ammapeta in Golugonda mandal in Visakhapatnam district were returning in a boat after worshipping a local deity on a hillock, Visakhapatnam Rural Superintendent of Police Vineet Brijlal, who visited the spot, told PTI over phone.

Two persons swam to safety while only one body was recovered from the reservoir, he said, adding 11 people were either feared drowned or missing.

As the boat was passing through the Tandava reservoir, one of the passengers saw a snake in the boat which led to panic among others and all of them went on one side of the boat, as a result of which the boat capsized, he said, quoting one of the survivors.

The district authorities have carried rescue and search operation with the help of locals in boats, but only one body was retrieved from the reservoir, he said. An expert team of naval divers is expected to reach the spot and they will carry out search operations, the SP said.

–PTI–