No unanimity on number of victims

Rajamahendravaram: There is no unanimity on the number of deaths and survivors relating to boat capsize in river Godavari occurred at Vadapalli village of West Godavari and Mantur of East Godavari.

According to East Godavari Collector Karthikeya Mishra, 37 passengers were travelling in the ill-fated boat and 19 passengers died and 18 survived in the mishap. However, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced on Wednesday that 44 passengers were on board at the time of mishap and 22 passengers died and 22 survived.

It is inevitable for tribals of both right and left banks of river Godavari to use motor launches or boats to travel in the islands due to lack of proper road connectivity. The government, moreover the ITDA had failed to lay roads in tribal habitations.

The tribal habitations in left bank (East Godavari) Kochhaluru, K Golamur, Teliperu, Taluru, Nadikuru, Kondamodalu, Mettagudem, Kokkeragudem, Tadivada, Peddagudem and Samalpadu and on right bank (West Godavari) Vadapalli, Erravaram, Pydakulamamidi, Todugunta,Takuru, Seeduru, Sivagiri and Koraturu of Polavaram mandal use motor launches and boats for their day-to-day activities.

Devipatnam police station is important in the river route between Polavaram and Papikondalu. But, the police along with officials of some other departments are allowing motor launches to travel in river without proper checking. Because of this many launch operators are operating them freely violating the safety aspects.

Though 80 passengers died in boat capsize in 1992, the same boat was operated in the name of Vijaya Bharathi and now the present owner Khajavali purchased it and named as Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara launchi. The officials failed to observe that the same boat was operating for 40 years. According to irrigation department official, permission was given to the motor boat after completing through check on Tuesday morning.