Rescue efforts persisted overnight and into Friday morning after a cruise boat accident at Bargi Dam in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district. Officials have safely rescued 24 passengers, but nine individuals, including five children, are still missing, intensifying the urgency of the search. Tragically, six deaths have been confirmed in the incident.
Seven of the rescued passengers have returned home, while the others are receiving medical treatment in various hospitals under the district administration’s care. The deceased individuals have been identified as Neetu Soni, Saubhagyum Alagan, Kakalazhi, Madhur Massey, Reshma Syed, and Shamim Naqvi.
The accident occurred when a tourist cruise capsized in the Narmada backwaters near Khamariya Island in Bargi Dam due to sudden strong winds and adverse weather conditions. The vessel overturned rapidly, leaving passengers stranded in the water, prompting a large-scale multi-agency rescue operation.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are working tirelessly at the site, with support from the Indian Army and additional reinforcements from across the country. The submerged cruise vessel, stuck at a depth of around 20 feet in the dam waters, poses significant challenges to the rescue and recovery efforts.
Distressing scenes unfolded at the accident site as families anxiously sought information about their loved ones. Despite difficult underwater conditions and poor visibility, rescue operations continued non-stop through the night, with divers and rescue personnel working diligently to locate possible survivors. The final death toll and the exact cause of the accident will be determined after the cruise is fully retrieved and examined thoroughly.
