A fun-filled boat ride on the Narmada River ended in tragedy on Thursday night when a boat overturned at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur, claiming nine lives and leaving many more missing. Those who survived say that despite several warnings, no safety precautions had been taken.
The vessel, carrying around 30ā40 people including crew members, overturned after sudden high-speed winds lashed the area around 6 pm. According to officials, wind speeds of 60ā70 kmph triggered rough waves that destabilised the boat within minutes.
Warnings ignored as weather worsened
Eyewitnesses and survivors said danger signs were visible well before the incident. People on the shore had warned the operator to return as weather conditions deteriorated.
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Passengers on board also urged the crew to steer towards safety. However, these requests were allegedly ignored.
Jabalpur Cruise Boat capsize ANI Speaking to ANI, an eyewitness said the boat operator continued towards deeper waters despite strong winds and visible turbulence. āPeople told him to bring the boat back and anchor it, but he did not listen,ā the eyewitness said, adding that locals later helped rescue several passengers.
Life jackets and crew response under scrutiny
Survivors have pointed to serious lapses in safety preparedness. According to accounts, life jackets were either insufficient or distributed only after the situation turned critical.
One passenger told ANI that the crew failed to guide people during the emergency. āThe staff did not provide life jackets. We arranged them ourselves and distributed them,ā he said.
Another survivor, speaking to IANS, described how waves crashed into the vessel, breaking glass panels before it overturned.
Questions have also been raised about the number of crew members on board and their ability to handle the crisis.
Rescue efforts and casualties
Among the earliest responders were local residents, who pulled out the survivors from the water by using ropes and boats. At least 15 individuals have been saved and transported to nearby hospitals.
Rescue operations continue after cruise boat capsizes in Bargi Dam reservoir in Jabalpur ANI Search and rescue operations were conducted throughout the night, with disaster relief forces combing through the area looking for missing passengers.
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One of the most heartbreaking moments involved the recovery of the body of a woman and her four-year-old child, who were holding onto each other.
Weather alert and probe ordered
Administrative negligence has come into question since the cruise was reported to have operated despite the issuance of a yellow alert from the India Meteorological Department, which warned of high winds in the area.
Rakesh Singh, the state minister, described the accident as āmost unfortunate,ā while pledging a compensation of ā¹4 lakh for the victims' families.
Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav, stated that the rescue operations were proceeding on a war footing and pledged assistance for the families affected. An official investigation is underway to determine possible lapses in security, crew behavior, and authorisation to operate in unfavorable weather conditions.
The Bargi Dam, situated at about 40 kilometers from Jabalpur, is a prominent hydroelectric project and tourist attraction site.
