Five tribal women go missing after boat capsizes in Godavari river near Polavaram

Five tribal women went missing after a country boat capsized in the Godavari River near Polavaram in Andhra Pradesh's Eluru district on Friday evening. The women were returning to their village after collecting forest produce when the overloaded boat reportedly lost balance and overturned in the swollen river.

Rescue teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and local fishermen, immediately launched a search operation to locate the missing women.

According to officials, several other passengers managed to swim to safety or were rescued by nearby residents. The search operation continued through the night and resumed on Saturday with additional boats and rescue personnel deployed in the area. Authorities said the strong river currents and rising water levels have made rescue efforts challenging.

District officials are closely monitoring the operation and have assured all possible assistance to the affected families. The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the use of small country boats for transportation in remote tribal areas, particularly during the monsoon season when river levels remain dangerously high. Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to trace the missing women.