Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha visited the families affected by the Jabalpur cruise tragedy, expressing deep sorrow and urging authorities to take strict action against those responsible for allowing the boat to operate in adverse weather conditions. The search operation has been expanded following the capsizing of the boat carrying 41 passengers in the Narmada River backwaters, with efforts now covering a five-kilometre stretch downstream.
Tankha, while describing the situation as distressing, highlighted administrative lapses as the cause of the tragedy, emphasizing negligence at various levels. He criticized the lack of training and safety measures, such as the absence of life jackets and inadequate warnings despite a yellow alert being issued. Tankha called the incident a case of mismanagement and demanded severe action against those accountable.
Rescue operations at the Bargi Dam reservoir in Jabalpur district have intensified, focusing on locating four missing individuals, including three children and one adult, following the Thursday evening accident. Despite nine confirmed deaths, the search continues with army divers and disaster response teams leading the efforts. The tragedy, which has shocked the region, resulted in the successful rescue of 28 passengers out of the total 41 onboard the ill-fated boat.
