4 Dead, 17 Missing as Tourist Boat Capsizes in Jabalpur's Bargi Dam

JABALPUR: A cruise boat operated by the MP tourism department capsized on Thursday during a sudden storm in a reservoir of Jabalpur’s Bargi Dam on the Narmada, leaving four people dead and 17 missing even as 22 were rescued. Officials said the vessel was carrying around 43 people, including the captain and two other crew members, when it got caught in the storm following an abrupt change in weather Thursday evening. This caused the vessel to lose control and overturn in the reservoir. Met data indicated that the sudden weather shift around 6pm led to wind speeds surging to 60-70 kmph, creating turbulent conditions in the dam’s reservoir. Officials said the high-velocity winds are believed to have destabilised the vessel, leading to the accident. Rescue operations were on till the filing of this report late Thursday night. Captain Madan Patel was among the rescued, aided by life jackets. Another passenger was saved later. The other two crew members are among the missing. Some of the survivors alleged life jackets were distributed only after the vessel started sinking, leaving many with no time to wear them amid panic. The state govt ordered an inquiry and announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. The cruise service has been operating at the for over 15 years, officials said. Located about 40km from Jabalpur city, Bargi Dam is a popular tourist destination known for boating and cruise activities. Chief minister Mohan Yadav said the local administration and rescue personnel were continuing rescue operations. Jabalpur collector Raghavendra Singh was among the senior officials present at the spot, along with personnel from disaster response units. Public works minister Rakesh Singh, tourism minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi and senior officials had been directed to oversee the efforts, the CM said in a post on X. “In this hour of crisis, the state stands with the affected families with full sensitivity and is ensuring all possible assistance,” Yadav wrote. PWD minister Singh, who reached the spot, described the accident as “most unfortunate” while confirming that the CM had announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased. Amid the grief, allegations about the delayed distribution of life jackets swirled. Julius, a survivor, was travelling with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandkids. Julius lost his wife, while his daughter and four-year-old grandson remain missing. His son-in-law and granddaughter survived. “There were no visible safety measures during the journey. Panic broke out when the cruise began to sink, and only then were life jackets handed out,” Julius said. A 14-year-old boy, identified as Jafar Ali, jumped into the river as the cruise began to sink. Battling strong currents, he managed to swim ashore. Bargi Dam, one of the earliest major projects on the Narmada, was constructed between 1974 and 1990. Spread across parts of Jabalpur, Mandla and Seoni districts, the dam stands about 69 metres high and stretches over 5.4 km, with its reservoir spanning 75km in length. Designed primarily for irrigation and hydropower generation, it currently produces around 90 MW of electricity and supports irrigation across thousands of square kilometres.