Nine people were reported dead in Jabalpur (MP) after a cruise boat carrying 35 to 40 passengers overturned in the Bargi River after encountering a sudden storm on Thursday, a police official said.
As reported by news agency ANI, around eighteen people have been rescued so far, while 15 to 18 are still missing, said City Superintendent of Police (Bargi town) Anjul Mishra.
The death toll in the cruise boat capsizing incident at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur has climbed to nine, a day after the mishap, even as search and rescue operations continue to locate the missing.
VIDEO | Jabalpur Bargi Dam cruise boat tragedy: Tourism Minister Dharmendra Lodhi, says, “Life jackets are provided on the cruise, and there is a clear provision requiring passengers to wear them. Now that allegations are being made, we will conduct an investigation to find out… pic.twitter.com/PNs7R8r24B
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Madhya Pradesh PWD Minister Rakesh Singh said that rescue teams have recovered two more bodies.
Singh further said that despite passengers wearing life jackets, questions remain over why more lives could not be saved, adding that a clearer picture will emerge after the rescue efforts are completed.
Speaking to the media after the unfortunate incident, Singh said, “NDRF has recovered two more bodies…The situation will be clear in some time…After the rescue operation concludes, it will be clear why people could not be saved even when they were wearing a life jacket,” as cited by ANI.
Passengers boarded the cruise without life jackets
A survivor of the boat capsizing incident has alleged a lack of basic safety measures, claiming that passengers were not provided with life jackets.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had also said that “15 citizens have been safely rescued” in the cruise boat capsized incident.
CM Yadav, while taking cognisance of the incident, said that this incident is a “severe storm”.
While taking it to the social media platform X, CM Mohan Yadav wrote, “Through swift rescue operations, 15 citizens have been safely rescued. Efforts are underway to locate those who are missing as quickly as possible.”
“In this hour of crisis, the state government stands in full solidarity with the affected families with complete sensitivity, and every possible assistance is being ensured,” the post read.
Strong winds caused the cruise to shrink in water
Eyewitnesses claimed that strong winds may have contributed to the incident.
Samrat, an eyewitness, while briefing about the tragedy, said, `It was really windy. We told the boat operator to come to the other end, but he paid no heed. It started on the other side but capsized in the middle of the dam. A few people in life jackets jumped off the boat… We safely rescued about 15-16 people… We rushed them to the hospital. The bodies were taken away.
(With inputs from ANI)