MP Boat Tragedy Toll Rises to 12; Search On for One Missing in Jabalpur

JABALPUR, May 3: The death toll in the Bargi Dam boat tragedy in Jabalpur rose to 12 on Sunday after the body of a five-year-old boy was recovered, while search operations continue for one missing person, police said.

The victim, identified as Mayuram (5), was found in the waters of Bargi Dam. Efforts are ongoing to locate Kamraj, around 50 years old, an employee of the Ordnance Factory in Khamaria, said Bargi police station SHO Neelesh Dohare.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening when a nearly 20-year-old cruise boat, operated by the state tourism department, capsized during a storm.

More than 200 rescuers, including Army divers airlifted from Agra, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local divers, are involved in the search operation. Authorities said the search is being conducted at depths of 40–50 feet across a radius of nearly 5 km.

Of the 41 identified passengers on board, 28 were rescued following the accident. CCTV footage from the boarding point showed 43 people heading towards the vessel, though only 41 passengers have been officially identified so far.

In response to the tragedy, the state government has ordered a probe, dismissed three crew members, and banned the operation of similar vessels across the state. (Agencies)