Mother, 4-year-old son’s bodies found holding each other in Jabalpur boat tragedy; 9 dead, PM announces relief

In a heartbreaking discovery during search operations at Madhya Pradesh’s Bargi Dam, rescuers recovered the bodies of a woman and her four-year-old son, the child still held tightly to her chest. The two were among tourists on a cruise boat that capsized in the Narmada River on Thursday. The death toll has now climbed to nine.

The incident, which unfolded near Khamariya Island amid strong winds and adverse weather, has triggered a large-scale rescue effort involving the Army, NDRF and SDRF. Authorities say several passengers were rescued, while search teams continue to look for those still missing.

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The victims were part of a family of four from Delhi. While the father and daughter managed to escape, the mother and son could not be saved. Officials said 28 to 29 people have been rescued so far, with several injured undergoing treatment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced financial assistance for the affected families. In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office said, “The loss of lives due to the capsizing of a boat in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, is extremely painful. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this tragic mishap. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected.”

An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund will be given to the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured will receive ₹50,000, the PMO added.

Rescue teams battle weather, poor visibility

Rescue operations continued through the night despite rain and darkness, officials said. Commandant of Home Guard SDRF Neeraj Singh Rajput told ANI that teams faced significant challenges but pressed on using lights and specialised equipment.

“The situation here is difficult. Last night it was rainy and dark, so the rescue operation faced some difficulties, but we continued with the help of lights and other equipment. Today, NDRF and Army teams arrived, after which we recovered 5 bodies. A total of 9 bodies have been recovered so far,” he said.

The Indian Army deployed personnel, including trained divers, to assist in the operation. The submerged vessel remains stuck at a depth of nearly 20 feet, making recovery efforts complex due to poor underwater visibility.

Probe ordered, negligence angle under lens

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi has ordered an investigation into the incident, which involved a tourism department cruise.

“This is a very sad and heartbreaking incident. I have ordered the department to investigate this incident. If negligence has occurred, we will take the strongest possible action,” Lodhi told ANI, adding that the death toll could rise.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav attributed the accident to a seasonal cyclone and said multiple teams were deployed immediately. “This is a tragic accident. Rescue teams are working,” he said.

Eyewitnesses pointed to strong winds at the time of the incident. One survivor alleged that safety measures were inadequate, claiming passengers were not provided life jackets, even as officials said some had them.

Search continues as questions remain

Authorities said cruises operate regularly at Bargi Dam for recreational activities. Jabalpur Collector Raghvendra Singh confirmed that search operations are still underway and bodies recovered have been sent for postmortem.

With conflicting accounts emerging over safety protocols and weather conditions, officials said clarity on the cause of the accident will only come after the rescue effort concludes and the probe is completed.