Two additional bodies were discovered on Saturday evening in the aftermath of the Bargi Dam cruise accident, bringing the total death count to 11. Among the recovered bodies were those of two children, four-year-old Viraj Soni and six-year-old Shritamil, which were retrieved near the accident site and sent for post-mortem examinations.
Efforts have now shifted towards locating the remaining missing individuals, including nine-year-old Mayuram and 40-year-old Kamraj. The Jabalpur district administration has deployed multiple teams and intensified search operations, including deep-diving efforts in specific areas of the reservoir to locate the missing persons.
Various teams comprising personnel from the Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the police, and the Home Guards are working collaboratively at the site. The search operation has been expanded with the deployment of additional boats and divers to cover a broader area of the dam.
Despite adverse weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy rainfall, and high waves disrupting operations during the day, authorities have suspended the search operation for the night prioritizing the safety of rescue personnel. Operations are set to resume on Sunday morning once weather conditions improve.
In parallel with the search efforts, the district administration is overseeing the transportation of bodies to the victims’ home states. Several victims have already been transported, with three individuals from one family sent to New Delhi via a scheduled flight and two others airlifted to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Additional bodies have been flown to Tiruchirappalli from Dumna Airport using cargo aircraft, albeit with initial technical delays.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday evening when a cruise vessel operated by Madhya Pradesh Tourism capsized in the Bargi Dam following a sudden storm. The administration remains committed to locating the missing persons and providing comprehensive support to the affected families.
