Bodies of all the twelve persons, including 8 children, who drowned when a boat capsized in Tandava reservoir two days ago, have been fished out, police said here on Tuesday.
“With the recovery of six bodies today, all the 12 bodies including eight children (aged between 9—12) have been fished out from the reservoir and rescue operations have winded up now,” Visakhapatnam District Superintendent of Police Vineet Brijlal told PTI.
A seven-member expert divers team from the Navy was pressed into service to trace the missing people, with the help of local swimmers, Mr. Brijlal said.
The country-made boat (also known as ‘putty’ in local parlance) capsized on January 31, when 14 villagers most of them children, from Ammapeta in Golugonda mandal were returning after performing rituals at a hillock here.
Two persons had swam to safety while others met the watery grave.
The incident occurred when the boat was passing through the Tandava reservoir, and one of the passengers saw a snake in the boat, leading to panic with all of them getting to one side of the boat, following which it capsized.