Amaravati: Search operations for 29 missing people in the boat tragedy in Andhra Pradesh proved to be a daunting task following heavy rain and surging flood in River Godavari as the toll rose to 12 on Monday while the vessel was located at a depth of 300 feet. A day after the boat on its way to the picturesque Papikondalu tourist spot overturned, officials put the toll at 12 with the recovery of four bodies, including that of an infant, on Monday morning. Announcing confirmed figures, official sources said the boat was carrying 68 people, including nine crew. As many as 27 people survived the mishap while the search was on for remaining 29 people.

Eight bodies were retrieved on Sunday hours after the boat 'Royal Vasishta' met with the accident, apparently on colliding with a large rock formation, at Kachchuluru, about 200 km from here. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy undertook an aerial survey of the accident spot. As the boat was traced at a depth of 300 feet in the river, officials are now trying to move heavy cranes and other equipment to the accident spot at Kachhuluru. Expert divers of Navy and specialist deep divers from Uttarakhand were said to be capable of reaching a depth of only about 150 feet.