Minister of Tourism and Culture Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao on Thursday gave way cheques totalling ₹90 lakh towards ex gratia to the kin of those who died in the boat tragedy at Papikondalu in the Godavari. Those lacking job and house among the families would be provided to them. Accident insurance will also be given soon.
He said 17 passengers from the district had gone missing in the tragedy. Of the 13 bodies identified nine were now given ₹10 lakh each. Three belonged to Anakapalle mandal, two each to Pendurti and Maharanieta and one each to Visakhapatnam Rural and Gopalapatnam.
Four belonged to Nellore district and they would be paid ex gratia in that district, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said. Four bodies were yet to be traced.
VMRDA Chairman Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao, District Collector V. Vinay Chand, MLAs Karanam Dharmasri, Gudiavada Amarnadh, Tippala Nagi Reddy and Annamreddy Adeep Raj were present.
Halt to salvage operation
Staff Reporter in Vijayawada writes: The rising flood level in the Godavari hampered the operation to retrieve the boat that had capsized in the Godavari near Kachuluru on September 15.
Following instructions from the government, Balaji Marines, which had been trying to retrieve the boat for the last four days, halted the operation. Fifteen tourists were still missing in the tragedy.
