Kakinada, Sep 15 (UNI) In one of the major boat disaster in recent times, at least 36 tourists feared drowned when a tourist launch- `Royal Vasista’ with 72 passengers on board including 11 member crew has capsized in river Godavari between Mantur – Kachhulur in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.
The tourists were on a maiden voyage to picturesque tourism spot Papikondalu.
The tourist launch shortly after sailing around noon from Gandipochamma temple Jetty in Devipatnam mandal of East Godavari district , 90 kms from here. capsized in river Godavari.

By evening 12 bodies were retrieved and intensive search is on by pressing into service two helicopters and equal number of NDRF teams consisting of 60 members besides the local fishermen and expert divers.
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As among the tourists considerable number of people are hailing from Warangal and Hyderabad, apart from Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam both the Chief Ministers of Telugu speaking states have expressed their deep concern and alerted their administrative machineries to spare no efforts in carrying out the rescue and relief operations.

While Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan reddy has announced ex-gratia of Rs. 10 lakhs, his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhararao has declared Rs. 5 lakhs .AP Ministers Kurasala Kannababu and Alla Nani have already reached the scene of boat tragedy and enquired the health of 15 survivors who were being treated at the Area hospital in Rampachodavaram.

At the instance of Chief Minister KCR , the Telangana Minister Puvvada Ajay has left for Rajahmundry to participate in the rescue and relief operations along with his AP counterparts.
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