A new video has been released that captures the final moments of the Bargi boat accident that took place in Madhya Pradesh earlier this week. The video shows that the passengers are seated inside the cruise and the water suddenly rushes into the vessel. Soon, the merry moments turn into sad ones.
The boat is seen stumbling as the river waters enter it. The staff is seen untying the life jackets hurriedly. By then, the boat has already sunk. Passengers were screaming for life jackets and were struggling to get them unsealed.
The clip clearly shows that the survivors' allegations were true and that the boat authorities failed to follow the basic guidelines in times of need.
What Does The Law Say?
According to the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, each passenger must be provided with and properly wear a life jacket before sailing. However, the primary findings show that major rules were not followed properly.
The boat was carrying nearly 40 tourists, even as the tickets were sold only for 29 tourists. Another shocking fact is that the boat was allowed to sail even after the Indian Meteorological Department had already issued an orange alert. The weather department cautioned of heavy storms with gusty winds expected to reach nearly 50 km/h.
As of now, nine bodies have been recovered. Four people are still missing, of which three are children. Search operations had to be suspended Friday evening due to continuous rainfall, with teams set to resume at 5 am Saturday.
Among the survivors was a 72-year-old man named Riyaz Hussain, who reportedly remained in the water for nearly four hours. As the boat capsized violently, passengers spent nearly half an hour running in panic but saw no action.
In the initial moments, it was the local fishermen and farmers that led rescue efforts, saving over 15 people. Only later did specialized teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), take over operations.
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Several People Have Been Suspended
Responding to the incident, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has ordered the suspension of all cruise operations, motorboat services, and water sports across Madhya Pradesh. A statewide safety audit is now mandatory. The services of the cruise pilot Mahesh Patel, helper Chhotelal Gond, and ticket counter in-charge Brijendra have been terminated.
Additionally, Hotel Maikal Resort and Boat Club Bargi Manager Sunil Maravi has been suspended, while Regional Manager Sanjay Malhotra has been attached to headquarters pending departmental inquiry.