At least 16 dead after boat capsizes in India

At least 16 have drowned after their boat capsized in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

According to police, 38 people were on board the vessel, many of whom were on their way to a religious festival.

On Sunday evening, ferry staff stated that it was the first time the boat, belonging to a two-month old company called ‘River Boating’ was travelling to the area from Bhavani Island.

Staff said that there was silt in the region of the river. The boat collided with the silt, causing it to capsize the vessel.

Twelve people have so far been rescued by the NDRF, fire personnel, police teams and local lifeguards.

According to eyewitnesses, loud screams were heard and private lifeguards from Simple Group rushed to the scene with rescue boats.

YSRC workers rushed to the scene and staged a protest, stating that the government failed in providing safety.

City police commissioner D Guatam Sawang ordered more forces to be deployed, as another 40 personnel were sent to aid rescue operations. Sawang also slammed the protestors of being insensitive.

“These protestors (YCP members) are obstructing rescue operations for us, we are unable to move from one location to another freely”, he told TOI.

“We were notified by the lifeguards who witnessed the incident and soon rushed to the spot. A lot of locals came on-board with us and we initially rescued two persons, two others were unconscious and two of them were dead”, said Harish Kotagiri, manager of Simple Group.

Koatgiri said that most of the victims were from the towns of Ongole and Nellore.

Ambulances rushed the injured to Gollapudi Andhra and Vijayawada GGH for treatment. The bodies were take to GGH mortuary and are awaiting for the families of the deceased to reach the spot, to initiate post-mortem procedures.

Rescue operations are still on-going.