A 70-year-old man, Syed Riaz Hussain, survived a tragic boat capsize on the Bargi dam reservoir in Jabalpur by clinging to the ceiling of the overturned vessel for nearly two hours. The incident claimed 13 lives, including his wife and a relative.
The Fateful Day
On April 30, Hussain purchased four tickets for the lower deck of the Madhya Tourism cruise. The lower deck cost Rs 200 per ticket, while the upper deck was priced at Rs 160. Most of the lower deck was underwater, offering a view of fish through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Hussain was accompanied by his wife Reshma (65), his daughter's mother-in-law Shamim Naqvi (65), and his 13-year-old grandson Zafar.
No one anticipated the tragedy that would unfold. The boat capsized, and two of the four family members drowned. Hussain was the last person to be rescued.
The Rescue
At 8:30 pm, rescuers found the boat lying upside down near the shore. Hussain was the only survivor still on the boat, clinging to an iron angle on what was now the ceiling. “There was absolute darkness around me. I was just waiting for the end,” he said.
For two hours, Hussain held on for dear life. He had witnessed his wife and Shamim drown, and he had no knowledge of his grandson's fate. In the overturned boat, most of the lower deck was submerged. Someone had broken part of the glass, allowing some to escape, but water rushed in, drowning others like his wife.
Survival Against Odds
Hussain held onto an iron angle in a corner of the lower deck, which was 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. Most of his body was submerged, but his head remained above water. He was fortunate that fresh air entered through a small hole in the metal floor above him.
For nearly two hours, he banged on the floor-roof, hoping someone would hear him. “Every moment felt like waiting for death,” he recalled. Around 8:30 pm, he heard faint noises outside. Gathering his remaining strength, he resumed hitting the floor-roof. “That’s when I heard a voice from outside saying someone is alive inside,” he said.
Rescuers eventually freed him, and he was taken to safety. The tragedy highlights the dangers of the cruise and the harrowing experience of those on board.
