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15 drown in AP boat mishap

Last updated on: November 10, 2003 20:13 IST

Fifteen persons, including 12 women, drowned when the boat carrying them capsized in the Godavari River in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh early on Monday.

The mishap occurred near Vararamachandrapuram village, about 35km from Rajahmundry, police said.

All the 15 bodies have been identified. Earlier reports had put the toll at 20. There were 35 persons, mostly daily wagers, on the boat of which 20 managed to swim to safety.

State Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu, who visited the hospital in Rajahmundry, announced ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 each to the families of the deceased and said the government would bear expense for the funerals.
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