Jabalpur May 1: A tourist cruise accident in the Bargi Dam reservoir in Jabalpur district has left at least nine people dead, while search operations continue for four passengers still missing after the vessel capsized during a sudden storm on 30 April evening.
Authorities confirmed on Friday that three additional bodies were recovered during intensified search efforts, taking the death toll to nine. Rescue teams have so far saved 28 passengers, while uncertainty continues over the exact number of people onboard when the accident occurred. Officials noted that although tickets were issued for 29 passengers, preliminary assessments suggest that between 43 and 47 tourists may have been travelling on the vessel.
The incident took place near Khamariya Island, a popular tourist location within the backwaters of the Narmada River reservoir, where recreational boating is a major attraction. The Tourism Department-operated cruise reportedly encountered rapidly deteriorating weather conditions around 5 pm, when sudden storm activity swept across the area.
Strong winds and turbulent waters are said to have destabilised the bimini-top vessel, causing it to drift nearly 300 metres from the shore before overturning in the reservoir. Passengers were thrown into deep waters as the boat capsized under the impact of the storm. Eyewitness accounts described chaotic scenes as visibility dropped sharply and efforts to control the vessel failed in the face of intensifying winds.
Emergency response teams from the Bargi Police and the State Disaster Response Force reached the location soon after the alert was raised and initiated rescue operations under difficult conditions. Several passengers were pulled out of the water before nightfall on Thursday, even as worsening weather and low visibility forced a temporary suspension of operations later that night.
Rescue efforts resumed early Friday morning with increased coordination among multiple agencies. Alongside SDRF personnel, teams from the Army have been deployed, while a helicopter from Hyderabad is being used for aerial surveillance of the reservoir. A specialised paramilitary team from Kolkata has also joined the operation to assist in search and recovery efforts.
Authorities are using hydraulic equipment and excavators to locate and retrieve the submerged vessel, which remains trapped at a depth of nearly 20 feet in the reservoir waters. Search teams are continuing focused operations around Khamariya Island and adjoining submerged zones where passengers are suspected to have gone missing.
Among the deceased recovered on Friday morning were a mother and her four-year-old son, whose recovery together has intensified the emotional impact of the tragedy. The family had travelled from Delhi, with the father and daughter surviving the incident.
Officials stated that the cruise became uncontrollable after the sudden storm struck the region. The vessel’s pilot, who has over a decade of experience, reportedly informed authorities that the situation deteriorated too quickly for corrective action once the weather turned severe.
Jabalpur police officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including discrepancies in passenger records and operational protocols. Authorities have indicated that the final number of passengers onboard remains under verification.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered a high level inquiry into the incident and is expected to visit Jabalpur to review ongoing rescue operations. Authorities have reiterated that search efforts will continue without interruption until all missing passengers are located and accounted for.
As operations continue, uncertainty persists over the scale of the tragedy, with rescue teams working against time in challenging conditions across the reservoir.
