A day after the Bargi Dam cruise tragedy upended numerous lives in MP’s Jabalpur, state Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav reached the city on Friday and called on the families of the ones who died. He offered them solace and assured them of full support from the government’s side.
CM Dr Yadav caressing kids who lost their kin
The atmosphere grew sombre as the grieving kin of the deceased struggled to contain their tears. CM Dr Yadav also appeared visibly moved, embracing kids and placing a reassuring hand on the heads of those who were mourning the loss of their loved ones. He said, “In this hour of crisis, the government stands firmly with every affected family. No one should feel alone.”
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy CM Jagdish Deora and PwD Minister Rakesh Singh.
“No culprit shall be spared,” vows CM
During this, CM Dr Yadav said that the ones responsible for the tragedy shall be subjected to strict action. He added that a high-level inquiry committee has been formed to probe the incident thoroughly.
He then paid a visit to the house of one of the deceased and offered condolences to his family members. He also met survivor Riaz Hussain, who managed to have a narrow escape after being trapped inside the ill-fated vessel for several hours.
28 people rescued by teams
As per officials, nine bodies have been recovered so far, while 28 people have been rescued from the Narmada River. The entire state is in shock after the incident. Initially, the workers involved in the Jal Jeevan Mission aided the rescue operations. They rushed to assist before the top-notch rescue teams could arrive. Subsequently, the NDRF and the SDRF personnel conducted extensive search and rescue operations. Skilled divers, including army personnel, also lent significant contribution in the operation.
Ex-gratia announced
A still from CM's visit
While the state government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi also declared an additional assistance of Rs 2 lakh to them.
CM Dr Yadav also recognised the bravery of the locals and the workers who helped save lives. He announced a reward of Rs 51,000 each for all the ones involved in rescue efforts, adding that all of them will be felicitated too.
SOPs to be introduced for adventure tourism
CM Dr Yadav consoling a female who lost a loved one
To prevent such potential incidents in the future, the state government is mulling a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for adventure tourism activities like boating, tourism etc. The inquiry panel will delve into the causes of the incident, will unearth the circumstances and will determine whether safety protocols were adhered to. CM Dr Yadav emphasised that neglecting weather conditions during boating and water sports could prove fatal.
Also read: Jabalpur cruise tragedy: MP CM Dr Yadav expresses grief, announces ex-gratia of Rs 4L for kin of deceased, rescue ops on