At least 16 people were killed while seven others were still missing after a boat carrying 38 people on board capsized at Pavitra Sangamam ghat in river Krishna in Vijayawada on Sunday.
According to initial reports, those killed in the incident include six women and women, while 13 people have been rescued by the NDRF teams.
The boat, owned by a private agency, overturned as it approached the ferry point around 5.45pm. As many as 20 passengers wearing life jackets were brought ashore with the help of trained swimmers and local fishermen.
National Disaster Response Force personnel were pressed into service to launch rescue operations, but these were hampered with the sunset.
The incident occurred around 5.45 PM when a private tourism boat was making a trip from Punnami Ghat, Bhavanipuram, to Pavitra Sangamam, Ferry village, the official said.
The overloaded boat capsized midway due to the weight of 38 passengers, the police official said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa, leader of opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and others expressed grief over the tragedy.
The deputy chief minister rushed to the accident spot to oversee the rescue operations and has directed police to rush additional force to help locate the missing persons.
Further details are awaited.
