PM expresses grief at deaths in AP boat accident, quake in Iran-Iraq

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed anguish at the loss of lives in a boat accident in Andhra Pradesh and an earthquake on the Iran-Iraq border.

An overloaded boat carrying 38 people capsized in the Krishna river near Vijayawada yesterday evening, resulting in the death of 14 tourists. Nine people were reported missing.

More than 200 people were killed when a powerful earthquake jolted the mountainous Iran-Iraq border last night.

"Capsizing of a boat in the Krishna river is anguishing. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy," the prime minister tweeted.

He said the Andhra Pradesh government and the National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF) are working on rescue operations.

He also condoled the deaths in the massive earthquake which shook Iraq and Iran.

"My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones in the tragic earthquake that has affected parts of Iran and Iraq. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest," his official Twitter handle @PMOIndia said quoting him.