In the aftermath of a tragic cruise boat accident at Bargi Dam that claimed nine lives, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced a complete ban on cruise services across the state. The decision comes amid rising concerns over safety lapses and alleged negligence.
After visiting the accident site on Friday, Yadav confirmed that a detailed inquiry has already been ordered. He stated that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for adventure sports will soon be formulated to prevent such incidents in the future. “Whoever is found guilty will not be spared,” he asserted, adding that the exact cause of the accident will only be known after the investigation report is submitted.
Taking immediate action, the state government has terminated the services of cruise pilot Mahesh Patel, helper Chhotelal Gond, and ticket counter in-charge Brijendra. Meanwhile, Sunil Marawi, manager of Hotel Maikal Resort and Boat Club Bargi, has been suspended for negligence, and regional manager Sanjay Malhotra has been attached to headquarters pending a departmental inquiry.
The government has also constituted a high-level committee comprising senior officials, including the Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence and the Jabalpur Divisional Commissioner, to investigate the root causes of the mishap and examine whether safety protocols were violated.
Upon arriving in Jabalpur, Yadav, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devra and Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh, met with the grieving families and assured them of full government support. He also visited Riyaz Hussain, a survivor who remained trapped inside the submerged vessel for nearly five hours. Hussain reportedly told the Chief Minister that at one point, he had lost hope of survival.
In terms of relief measures, the state government has announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Survivors and victims’ families have raised serious allegations of negligence. Manoj Sen, a resident of Jabalpur who lost his wife Jyoti in the incident, questioned the lack of safety measures. His three children, currently hospitalised, survived the mishap.
“The accident happened due to bad weather, but there was also a complete lack of safety arrangements,” Sen said. “Life jackets were distributed only when the cruise began sinking. The vessel was in poor condition and capsized within minutes.”
He further claimed that passengers were instructed to move to the lower deck, which proved fatal. “Those who went below drowned, while those on the upper deck survived,” he added.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities continue searching for missing passengers. Arnab Das Gupta of the All India Defence Employees Federation stated that his colleague Kamaraj, a native of Tamil Nadu, remains untraceable. Seven members of Kamaraj’s family were on board during the ill-fated trip.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with questions being raised over regulatory oversight and enforcement of safety norms in tourist activities across the state.
Also read: Jabalpur boat tragedy: Video shows mother clinging to son
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