Five feared drowned as boat capsizes in Godavari river

At least five women were feared drowned, even as 15 others were rescued when an overcrowded boat carrying them capsized in Godavari river in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh this evening, police said.

The incident occured at around 5.30 pm between Peddamallam and Lanka Gannavaram of East and West Godavari districts when a group of around 20 villagers from Ayodhya Lanka of West Godavari were on their way back after visiting Goddess Muchenamma temple on the banks of river Godavari, they said.

Five persons including three women and two girls went missing in the incident, while 15 others travelling in the overcrowded boat were rescued when it capsized, a senior police officer told PTI. "As of now no bodies have been traced and they are still presumed to be missing," he said. Efforts are underway to trace those who drowned. Teams from Amalapuram and Narsapur Police Sub-Division were engaged in the rescue operation, the police officer said.