Boat tragedy: 2 more persons held, help desk set up for kin

Rampachodavaram: East Godavari police arrested two more persons on Monday in connection with the boat accident in the Godavari at Kuchuluru of Devipatnma.
President of Sir Arthur Cotton A/C Boat Owners’ Association, Geda Veera Venkataramana Satyanaga Murali, and Yerramsetty Raja Rao, who oversees the Papikondalu Boat Owners’ and Agency Welfare Association, were arrested on charges of allowing boats to sail based on a circular from port officers and not seeking permission from authorities.
So far three boat owners, Kodigudla Venkata Ramana, Yalla Prabhavati and Yerramsetty Atchutamani were arrested on September 20 for negligence. They had chosen an inexperienced driver for the boat.
Rampachodavaram ASP, Vakul Jindal, said the arrested persons have been produced before the magistrate court. He revealed that search is on to nab the rest of the people responsible for the accident.
Meanwhile, East Godavari district SP Nayeem Asmi and Rajahmundry urban district SP Shemushi Bajpai held consultations with New India Assurance Company and set up a single window helpdesk at the latter’s office on Monday in order to provide insurance to families of people who died in the boat accident.
The helpdesk will help the families in providing copies of FIR, inquest and post-mortem reports and authentication certificate from the insurance company that are necessary.
Speaking on the occasion, Bajpai said that 77 persons were travelling in the boat when it met with the accident and added that 26 persons have been rescued. He maintained that 36 persons lost their lives and their bodies have been handed over to their families after post-mortem.
He mentioned that 15 persons are still missing and added that some bodies might be still trapped in the boat. He said that efforts are going on to retrieve the boat.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)