Survivors allege storm warnings ignored, no life jackets issued before Bargi Dam boat tragedy

Survivors point to ignored warnings

Rajesh Soni, who survived the accident along with three family members, said the boat should never have been allowed to leave.

“There was already a weather alert. Despite that, the boat was permitted to operate. This is a major lapse,” he said.

The Jabalpur weather office had issued a yellow alert for heavy rain on Thursday.

Abhilasha Shrivastava, a scientist with the India Meteorological Department in Bhopal, said district weather offices had been warned as early as April 30 morning about thunderstorms and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph.

Life jackets distributed only after panic began

Several survivors alleged that life jackets were not handed out before boarding and were instead stored inside the vessel.

Soni said crew members began searching for the jackets only after weather conditions worsened.

“There was a rush to get the jackets kept on the lower deck. Some passengers could not wear them. Those who managed to get one stayed afloat long enough to be rescued. Others drowned,” he said.

Another survivor, Sangeeta Kori, described scenes of panic as water began entering the boat.

“No one was wearing a life jacket when we started. They were lying somewhere inside. When the water started filling up, they tried to distribute them, but it caused chaos and scuffles. Within moments, the boat overturned,” she said.

Locals claim warnings were ignored

Residents standing along the shore said they repeatedly shouted at the helmsman to turn back as storm conditions intensified.

“We kept yelling for 15 to 20 minutes asking them to return,” one local said. “Suddenly the boat flipped and everyone was thrown into the water. Some of us swam out and pulled people to safety.”

Crew accused of abandoning passengers

One survivor alleged that the pilot and crew jumped overboard before the vessel capsized.

Advocate Roshan Anand Verma, who was travelling with nine family members, described the terrifying moments before the accident.

“The weather was normal when we boarded, but midway across the dam the skies changed suddenly. Fierce winds created huge waves that slammed into the boat and flooded the cabin,” he said.

“Passengers had not been given life jackets. As panic spread, the pilot and crew jumped into the water to save themselves. People were screaming and praying.”

Cruise pilot Mahesh Patel denied the allegation.

“The boat sank within seconds after passengers rushed to one side to collect life jackets,” he said. “I too was rescued by locals nearly an hour later.”

Questions over maintenance and response

Tourism Corporation adviser Rajendra Nigam said the Narmada Queen had undergone its annual maintenance in October last year and was in proper condition.

Boat Club manager Sunil Maravi confirmed the servicing.

“It was well maintained,” he said.

Construction workers at a nearby water plant were among the first to launch rescue efforts before emergency services arrived.

Deputy Inspector General Atul Singh said the State Disaster Response Force reached the site around 8 pm, by which time darkness had hampered visibility.

“The SDRF located the submerged vessel within an hour and recovered several bodies,” he said.

Rescuers later used gas cutters to open the submerged hull around 10 pm. The boat was brought ashore Friday morning after trapped victims were retrieved.

Families cling to hope

By Friday evening, divers had recovered additional bodies, while several people remained missing — including children and a woman.

For some families, the agonising wait continued.

Jabalpur resident Syed Riaz Hussain, whose wife, grandson and sister-in-law are among the missing, said he was refusing to lose hope.

“I am still praying they are alive,” he said.