Date:19/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/19/stories/2007011902710600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

50 feared dead in boat tragedy in A.P.

Andhra Pradesh Bureau

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HYDERABAD/KURNOOL: At least 50 pilgrims were feared dead or missing when an overloaded boat in which they were crossing the Krishna in the backwaters of Srisailam dam on the Kurnool - Mahabubnagar border capsized on Thursday afternoon.

According to Home Minister K Jana Reddy, some 70 persons were travelling in the boat but only 15 of them could swim ashore to safety or were rescued by other boats.

The victims of the tragedy were going from Maravakonda to Manchalakatta in Mahabubnagar, a distance of 1.5 km, to attend a festival at Laxmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Singotam. Thursday was the concluding day of the festival which is attended by about 40,000 people.