The week-long suspension of tourism boat operations on the Godavari river routes from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to the Papikonda Hills commenced on Sunday.

The decision follows after an incident that took place on June 12, wherein 89 tourists aboard a private boat were stranded in the river near Devipatnam in Polavaram district, due to a technical glitch.

Tourism Department Kakinada Divisional manager M. Ch. Pawan Kumar told The Hindu: “As many as 34 tourism boats have suspended operations for the safety audit. Of these 15 boats operate from Posammagandi point, and 19 boats operate from Pochavaram, where boats from Bhadrachalam in Telangana enter the Papikonda Hills.” The Department of Tourism officially operates only one boat.

Rampachodavaram Revenue Divisional Officer K. Swathi said that the safety audit of all government and private boats would begin on Monday and continue for a week. “The last safety audit of the boats operating in the Papikonda Hills was done a year ago,” said Ms. Swathi.

The Departments of Tourism, Revenue, Police, Forest and Water Resources will jointly conduct the safety audit.