Bargi Dam Tragedy: Death toll rises to 9; woman found clutching child

The death toll in the tragic boat accident at Bargi Dam rose to nine on Friday, as rescue teams recovered five more bodies from the reservoir following the capsizing of a cruise vessel amid a sudden storm.A deeply distressing moment unfolded during the operation when divers discovered the body of a woman still clutching her child inside the submerged boat. Rescuers described the scene as heart-wrenching, with teams struggling to separate the two due to the mother’s tight hold.
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Minister Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi said, "Four bodies were recovered on Thursday, while five were found in the early hours during the rescue operation, taking the toll to nine." He added that 22 people have been rescued so far.The minister said a thorough probe would be conducted into the incident, including concerns raised by a survivor regarding the availability of life jackets.

VIDEO | Jabalpur Bargi Dam cruise boat tragedy: Tourism Minister Dharmendra Lodhi, says, "Life jackets are provided on the cruise, and there is a clear provision requiring passengers to wear them. Now that allegations are being made, we will conduct an investigation to find out… pic.twitter.com/PNs7R8r24B

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 1, 2026

According to information,the ill-fated cruise boat, carrying 29 passengers and two crew members, overturned on Thursday evening after encountering strong winds in the reservoir built on the Narmada River in Jabalpur district.Rescue operations continued overnight, with teams from the Army, NDRF and SDRF working in challenging conditions. State PWD Minister Rakesh Singh said hydraulic cranes were being deployed to retrieve the sunken vessel from the water.
Divers involved in the operation said the conditions inside the wreckage were extremely hazardous, with poor visibility, collapsed structures, and protruding iron rods complicating access. In some instances, rescuers had to break through parts of the vessel using hammers to reach trapped victims. One diver was briefly trapped inside before being safely pulled out.

STORY | Bargi Dam tragedy: Divers find body of woman clutching child inside sunken cruise boat

In a heart-wrenching discovery that moved seasoned rescuers, a diving team of a paramilitary force found the body of a woman who was onboard the ill-fated cruise boat that capsized in… pic.twitter.com/M9blBeRJBm

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 1, 2026

Eyewitnesses said strong winds had turned the water choppy, prompting passengers to raise alarm and urge the crew to return to shore. However, the crew reportedly failed to respond in time, and the vessel drifted before capsizing. Some locals managed to rescue a few passengers using ropes, particularly those wearing life jackets.Search efforts remain underway to trace the missing, as authorities continue to assess the circumstances that led to the tragedy.