An evening of tranquility on the waters of the Narmada River turned into a catastrophe when a tourist cruise ferrying 29 people sank at Jabalpur’s Bargi Dam on Thursday. As per sources, the vessel was operated by the MP Tourism board, which capsized near Khamariya Island in the city after a sudden storm, triggering panic and an immediate rescue operation.

As strong winds lashed the region, the routine leisure ride quickly spiralled into panic and chaos. The boat was destabilised before it went under in turbulent waters. Eyewitnesses recalled fear and confusion as passengers scrambled to save their lives.

4 die, say officials

Officials aware of the incident confirmed that four people have died in the incident, which include two women. They added that 15 people have been rescued so far, while a hunt is on for the ones still missing. The exact number of people who have gone missing is yet to be confirmed, but authorities are fearing that the death tally could rise as the search operations are underway. The people who survived the incident described a terrifying ordeal, with a receipt of little warning before the vessel began to tilt and sink.

SDRF personnel pressed into service

Officials said that rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been pressed into service, and a large-scale search operation is being conducted. It will continue through the night under powerful searchlights.

However, the murky waters of the dam, coupled with low visibility have impeded rescue efforts. Emergency teams have intensified their efforts and are racing against time to locate the missing passengers. Meanwhile, senior administrative officials, including Jabalpur Collector Raghavendra Singh and Superintendent of Police (SP) Sampat Upadhyay are present on the scene to monitor the ongoing operation.

Injured being treated, probe ordered

The persons injured in the mishap have been admitted to the Jabalpur medical college for treatment, while the cruise captain, Mahesh Patel, was saved as he was wearing a life jacket.

Public Works Department (PwD) Minister and local MLA Rakesh Singh said that rescue efforts are the topmost priority in light of the incident. He added, “If any negligence on the part of the cruise operator comes to light, strict action will follow.” Authorities have begun a probe to determine what caused the cruise to capsize, with initial reports suggesting adverse weather as the key trigger.

Also read: Overloaded pickup truck turns turtle in MP’s Dhar, 12 die, 13 critically injured; PM Modi announces ex-gratia