At least nine people have died after a cruise boat carrying passengers capsized “during a storm” at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur (MP, India) on Thursday, officials said, with search operations continuing for people still missing.
According to officials, 28 people have been rescued, while four remained missing as of Friday afternoon (local time). The missing persons included three children aged 5, 6, and 9 years.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said operations by local authorities and rescue teams were continuing “unabated” following the incident, which he said was caused by a severe storm. He directed senior officials, including Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh and Tourism Minister Dhruvendra Singh Lodhi, along with senior administrative and police officers, to reach the site immediately.
In a statement released on Friday, Yadav said strict action had been taken against those found negligent.
“The guilty will not be spared under any circumstances,” Yadav said, expressing condolences to the victims and adding that the government is committed to providing all possible assistance.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed condolences, saying he was “deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives” and prayed for the recovery of those injured.
The cause of the capsizing is being investigated. Questions were being raised over why life jackets were reportedly not provided to passengers when they boarded the cruise.