A joyous housewarming trip for a Delhi family turned into a devastating tragedy when three of its members died in a cruise boat accident in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur. The incident occurred on Thursday evening at the Bargi Dam on the Narmada river.
The Incident
The Massey family from Delhi Cantonment had traveled to Jabalpur earlier this week to attend a relative's housewarming ceremony. After the event on Tuesday, they decided to spend an extra day sightseeing before returning home. On Thursday evening, they boarded a cruise boat operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department at the Bargi Dam. The vessel, carrying around 40 to 43 passengers, was caught in a sudden storm as strong winds and waves lashed the reservoir, causing it to lose balance and capsize.
Victims and Survivors
Among those who died were Marina, 39, her four-year-old son Trishan, and her mother Madhur Massey, 62. Marina's husband Pradeep, their 14-year daughter Siya, and her father Julius Massey, 65, survived the incident.
Eyewitness Account
Recalling the moments before the tragedy, Marina's brother Kuldeep Mohan said the family had been in regular contact and were expected to return to Delhi soon. He described how the situation unfolded suddenly while Marina was on a video call with family members back home. "My sister was on a video call with us, showing us the view and the water. Then suddenly everything changed. She kept crying, 'Save me... save me...' and after that the phone disconnected," he told PTI.
According to him, the family members were on the upper deck when the weather worsened rapidly. "The waves started rising, and the cruise became unbalanced. Everyone from the first floor rushed downstairs. The boat was shaking badly, and water began entering. Then, my brother-in-law, Pradeep, hurriedly started searching for life jackets," he said. Kuldeep added that Pradeep began distributing life jackets as panic spread among passengers. "Some wore the jackets, while some jumped into the water in fear. Those who jumped were saved by local villagers using ropes and rescue equipment. My father was among those rescued," he said.
He said Pradeep, who knew some swimming, managed to save himself and his teenage daughter. However, by the time he tried to locate the others, they had disappeared. "By the time my brother-in-law could look for my sister, her child and my mother, they had gone missing under the ship," he said.
Allegations of Negligence
Relatives have alleged negligence by the boat operators and authorities, claiming that no warning was issued despite a weather alert. "A yellow alert had already been issued, but no one informed them. If they had told people the weather was dangerous, and the boat could not operate, nobody would have boarded," Mohan said. He also raised concerns about the lack of a permanent rescue system at the tourist spot. "It was hardly 150 to 200 metres from the shore, but the waves were so strong that people kept getting pushed back. If it is a tourist place, there should be a permanent rescue team. Emergencies do not come with warning," he said.
Another relative, Sangeeta Kori, alleged that the boat was overloaded and that warnings from locals were ignored. "It is sheer negligence. They have turned it into a source of income, and there was no concern for safety. People from the village were shouting and signalling to him which side to bring the boat. Had he brought it this side, they might have been saved. But he kept steering the other way, and it capsized," she said.
Official Response
Meanwhile, officials said the death toll in the accident has risen to nine, with several others still missing. Around 28 people have been rescued so far, while search operations continue. Preliminary findings indicate that wind speeds surged to 60 to 70 kmph around Thursday evening, creating turbulent conditions that destabilised the vessel. Survivors have also alleged that life jackets were distributed only after the boat began to sink, leaving little time for passengers to respond. The state government has ordered a probe into the incident. Compensation of Rs 4 lakh each has been announced for the families of those who died.
