At least 20 dead as tourist boat capsizes into river Krishna near Vijayawada

Kin of those deceased and missing mourning for their loss. The boat, run by Simple Water Sports, was ferrying 35-40 passengers, much more than its capacity of 20, as per sources. The overcrowded boat allegedly couldn't pass over a whirlpool at the spot where the Godavari joins the Krishna. (Express Photo Service | P Ravindra Babu)

The authorities have pressed into service a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to rescue the missing passengers. (Express Photo Service | P Ravindra Babu)

Sunday being a holiday and this being the auspicious Karthika Masam, the number of tourists taking a ferry was more than usual. (Express Photo Service | P Ravindra Babu)

A Simple Water Sports representative, however, claimed that they hadn't overcrowded the boat and there were only 20 passengers on the boat. Conflicting versions are emerging on the cause of the accident. (Express Photo Service | P Ravindra Babu)

Relatives of the deceased and the missing sit in shock as rescue operations are carried out to recover the others feared drowned. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed DGP Sambasiva Rao and Krishna district collector Lakshmi Kantham to rush to the spot and monitor the rescue operations. (Express Photo Service | P Ravindra Babu)

IN PIC: Aerial view of tourist boat capsized in river Krishna at Pavitra Sangamam Ghat on Sunday evening. NDRF personnel continuing rescue operations. (Photo Courtesy Twitter Sistla Murthy @Murthy_TNIE)

IN PIC: Troups of AP Fire Service and NDRF continuing rescue operations near Pavitra Sangamam Ghat on Monday morning. (Photo Courtesy Twitter Sistla Murthy @Murthy_TNIE)

IN PIC: Troups of NDRF and Fire Serivces on Monday morning retrieved two bodies who went missing in river Krishna at Pavitra Sangamam Ghat on Sunday evening. (Photo Courtesy Twitter Sistla Murthy @Murthy_TNIE)