Jabalpur boat tragedy: 9 dead, search intensifies as 4 still missing
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Bhopal: Rescue operations at the Bargi Dam reservoir in Jabalpur district intensified on Saturday, with specialised teams continuing an extensive search for four people still missing after a cruise boat capsized on Thursday evening.
Nine people have been confirmed dead in the tragedy, while four others remain untraced. According to police, among the missing are three children and one adult.
Speaking to the media, City Superintendent of Police (Bargi zone) Anjul Ayank Mishra said a “merg” (intimation report under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code) has been registered, and further legal action will follow only after all bodies are recovered. “As of now the police have registered 'merg' in the case and only after the recovery of all bodies would further investigation be initiated. First, all bodies need to be recovered,” he said.
The boat, carrying 41 passengers, capsized in the Narmada River backwaters, triggering a large-scale rescue effort. Two days after the incident, the search perimeter had been expanded significantly, now covering a five-kilometre downstream radius.
Army divers, along with disaster response personnel, are leading the high-intensity search operation for the missing man and three children. Of the 41 passengers on board, 28 were rescued immediately after the accident, with survivors providing key accounts of the moments before the vessel overturned.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the region. While rescue efforts continue as the top priority, legal proceedings are also being prepared.
The officer added that an FIR will be registered only after all bodies are recovered. “Once all bodies are recovered, an investigation will be launched, and an FIR will be registered in the matter,” he said.
The upcoming investigation is expected to examine safety measures on the boat, including adherence to passenger capacity norms and availability of life-saving equipment, to determine whether negligence or technical failure contributed to the high death toll.
Meanwhile, families of the missing continue to wait along the riverbanks as joint teams of military and civilian rescuers navigate the challenging backwaters. With the search area widening further into the reservoir, the operation remains the top priority for district authorities.
With IANS inputs