(Eds: Updates tolls, adds details)Amaravati, Nov 13 (PTI) The death toll in the AndhraPradesh boat capsize rose to 21 as one woman died duringtreatment at a private hospital here today, Krisha DistrictCollector B Lakshmi Kantam said.
In a related development, the mother of one of thedeceased women died of shock when the body was taken to theirresidence in Ongole today, a senior police official said.
The boat, carrying 42 people and three crew members,capsized in the Krishna river near Vijayawada yesterday.
While 21 people were rescued, search teams fished out 20bodies.
Four people, including two crew members, were stillmissing, and a massive search operation involving NationalDisaster Response Force (NDRF) and state teams was on.
Among the deceased were 10 women and a teenage boy, thecollector said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naiduconducted an aerial survey of the river stretch betweenBhavani Island and Pavitra Sangamam, and visited the accidentspot at Ferry village.
This morning, he also visited the Andhra Hospital atGollapudi where four of the 21 people rescued yesterday wereundergoing treatment. Seventeen of the rescued were dischargedafter first-aid.
Fifty-seven-year-old Bhulaxmi died of cardiac arrest atthe Andhra Hospital this evening. The body of her husbandSudhakar was fished out last evening.
A total of three couples died in the tragedy.
One of the couples, Pasupuleti Seetaramaiah and Anjamma,was related to state Director General of Police (in-charge)Nanduri Sambasiva Rao.
CPI national secretary K Narayana lost three of hisclose relatives in the mishap.
Lakshmikantam of Ongole died of shock after she saw thebody of her deceased daughter Leelavati, the police officialsaid.
A widow, Leelavati was among those killed in the boattragedy and her body was taken home this afternoon afterpost-mortem.
While 16 bodies of the deceased were fished out of theriver last night, four more were retrieved this morning.
"With deep regret and pain", the chief minister sharedthese details in a statement made in the Legislative Assemblythis afternoon.
He said the boat was operated illegally by River Boatingand Adventures Private Limited and a case has been registeredagainst five people under Section 304 (2) of the Indian PenalCode -- causing death by rash or negligent act not amountingto culpable homicide.
"The driver and the helper of the boat are still missing,while body of the assistant driver has been recovered thismorning. We will take stern action and punish the guilty asper law," he said.
Those victims covered under the Pradhan Mantri JeevanJyoti Beema Yojana would be extended Rs 10 lakh compensationper family, while those uncovered would be paid Rs 8 lakh.
A two-member committee comprising an IAS and an IPSofficers would thoroughly probe the incident and suggestsafety and precautionary measures to prevent such tragedies infuture, the chief minister said.
"It is due to the greed of the private operator that thistragedy occurred. They did not have any permission (to operatethe ferry service). The driver was not experienced and had noknowledge of the (river) route. They behaved so irresponsiblyand caused the mishap," said Naidu.
He complimented two fishermen of Ferry village --Nadakuditi Pitchaiah and Kanna Sivaiah -- for displayingexemplary courage and rescuing several passengers of theill-fated boat.
He also commended the National Disaster ResponseForce, State Disaster Response Force and other governmentteams that took part in the search and rescue operation.
The Assembly passed a resolution mourning the tragedy.
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This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.