Visakhapatnam, Sep 15 (IANS): At least seven persons were killed and many others were missing as a boat with about 60 tourists capsized in Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district on Sunday, officials said.

Locals rescued 24 people while a search was on for others.

The accident occurred in Papikonda area. Rescue workers pulled out seven bodies.

A majority of those on the boat operated by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department were from Telangana. Officials said 22 of the tourists were from Hyderabad.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the officials to carry out rescue operations on a war-footing.

He asked them to use National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, besides pressing into service Navy and ONGC helicopters in the rescue operations.

The Chief Minister also ordered all the available ministers in the district to rush to the scene and supervise the rescue work.

He directed the officials to suspend all boating services immediately in the region.