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🇮🇳 India /Disasters & Emergencies

Jabalpur Tragedy: MP Tourism Boat Sailed Despite Yellow Alert; Life Jackets Locked Below Deck, Survivors Say

From Hindustan Times · (16m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A tourist boat carrying over 40 people capsized at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur during a storm, killing at least nine and leaving six missing.
  • Survivors reported that the boat sailed despite a yellow alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms, and life jackets were not distributed until panic ensued.
  • The MP Tourism Department stated the boat underwent annual maintenance and was well-maintained, while locals claim warnings to turn back were ignored.

Tragedy struck the Bargi Dam as the Narmada Queen, a vessel operated by MP Tourism, capsized during a violent storm, resulting in the deaths of at least nine tourists and leaving six still unaccounted for. Survivors' accounts paint a grim picture of negligence, with claims that the boat was allowed to sail despite a yellow alert issued by the weather department for thunderstorms and gusty winds.

Despite that the boat was allowed to operate. It is a major lapse.

— Rajesh SoniA survivor, expressing dismay that the boat sailed despite weather warnings.

The harrowing experience of survivors like Rajesh Soni and Sangeeta Kori highlights a critical failure in safety protocols. They reported that life jackets were not distributed before boarding and were only sought out in a panic after the storm hit, leading to chaos and preventing many from accessing them. This delay proved fatal for some, while those who managed to don the jackets had a better chance of survival.

None of the passengers had worn life jackets when the boat started. They were just kept somewhere inside. When the water started filling, they tried to distribute them, but it led to panic and scuffles. Within moments, the boat tipped over.

— Sangeeta KoriAnother survivor, describing the chaotic and delayed distribution of life jackets.

Despite assurances from tourism officials regarding the boat's maintenance, the incident raises serious questions about operational oversight and adherence to safety measures. Locals on the shore reportedly shouted warnings to the helmsman to turn back, but these pleas went unheeded. The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated a search and rescue operation, but the focus now shifts to understanding how such a preventable tragedy could occur, especially when safety warnings were reportedly in place and ignored.

It was well maintained.

— Rajendra NigamTourism corporation adviser, confirming the boat's maintenance record.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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