Four persons have drowned and 15 are reported missing after a country boat capsized in a canal in Guntur district on Tuesday morning.

Giving details, Guntur Superintendent of Police V C Sajjanar told rediff.com that the boat capsized in Repalle canal near Bollakota around 8.30 am.

The boat, carrying about 20 persons, overturned as some women tried to get into the already overloaded boat.

The canal was flowing to the brim due to overnight rains in the area. Soon after the mishap, local villagers swung into action and organized rescue operations.

Revenue and police officials also rushed to the spot and professional swimmers were roped in to fish out the bodies. So far, authorities have recovered four bodies from the swollen canal.