Nine of 14 members of Kadipikonda village who went on a pleasure trip reportedly died when the boat they were travelling capsized in river Godavari en route Rajahmundry to Papikondalu on Sunday.
According to the relatives and villagers, those who are believed to have survived the tragedy included – Basike Venkataswamy, B Prabhakar, B Yadagiri, B Suresh and B Prasad.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Venkataswamy’s wife Bhagyalaxmi said the villagers left on Friday, September 13, by Gautami Express on a two-day pleasure trip. They were supposed to start on Sunday on their return journey. Ms Rajani who reportedly lost her father Basike Rajender (50), a painting worker, said he called the family in early hours and said he was going on a boat to witness Papikondalu. He said as the phone would be out of coverage area, he would call them again after coming back from the trip.
“We were all shocked on knowing about the boat tragedy from television news. My mother Lalitha is away to Dharmasagar visiting my sister. I am helpless,” she said wailing inconsolably.
Rama Devi fainted and was unable to talk after knowing that her husband Gorre Rajender (55) drowned in the river Godavari. She was unable to speak. The neighbours who gathered at her residence are consoling her . They had two girls who were married off.
The relatives and villagers were frantically trying to talk to the survivors, but in vain. Inspector J. Narasimhulu, who arrived in the village, said that all the phones of the survivors were switched off. They were trying to contact the local police there to get more information about those killed and those who survived.
Forty-year-old Kavitha Rani broke down and was crying inconsolably as she lost her elder son Basike Avinash who was studying ITI. Her second son Aravind, an Intermediate student, is also shocked over the death of his brother.
Their father Tirupathi died five years ago and their mother was working as daily wage labourer supporting her two sons.
Despite knowing that their father was safe, daughters of Gorre Prabahakar (55) were still anxious to know more about his whereabouts and present condition. “We saw our father talking to reports on television. But we are unable to contact him and his phone is switched off. We are eagerly waiting for his phone,” his wife Rajani said. Mr Prabhakar works in the Railways as booking clerk at Warangal railway station, she said.
Kazipet ACP K Narsing Rao, Madikonda Inspector J Narasimhulu and other police officials came to Kadipikonda village and were noting the details of villagers who went on the trip.
The ACP told newsmen that they knew very little about who were killed and who survived. They were trying to contact the local police.
Puvvada expresses shock
Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar expressed deep shock and grief over the boat accident in the Godavari.
Mr Ajay was talking to newsmen here on Sunday evening en route Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to inquire about the safety of the missing tourists from the State and bring them back to the Sate in coordination with the official machinery engaged in rescue operations in East Godavari district.
The tragic incident brought back the bitter memories of similar boat mishaps in the Godavari in Bhadrachalam division in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh in 1957, 1970 and 2001.
Families of the missing tourists from the State may contact the following numbers for any assistance.
Bhadradri-Kothagudem District Collector: 9490636555, SP: 8332861100 and ASP, Bhadrachalam: 9440795319, Bhadrachalam, CI of Police: 9440795320.
