At least 15 missing, 4 dead as Narmada cruise boat capsizes during storm
Strong winds on the Narmada cause a cruise boat to overturn near Khamaria Tapu; over a dozen feared missing as rescue teams search through the night amid questions over safety compliance.
At least four people were killed and several others remain missing after a cruise boat carrying 35 to 40 passengers capsized in the Bargi Dam area of Jabalpur on Thursday evening, following a sudden storm that triggered strong winds and high waves on the Narmada river.
The incident occurred near Khamaria Tapu (island) in the Bargi Dam area. Sudden adverse weather conditions triggered strong winds and high waves, causing the cruise boat to lose balance, overturn, and gradually sink. At least 18 have been rescued so far, many of them pulled out of the water by local fishermen and first responders.
Meanwhile 15- 18 people are still unaccounted for, the police said.
Storm hits Narmada cruise: 4 dead, 15–18 missing after boat capsizes at Bargi Dam in Jabalpurhttps://t.co/f1guJgWxVq pic.twitter.com/tMGyyxIDw4
“Some 35–40 people were on the river cruise boat when it overturned because of a sudden storm. Four bodies were recovered from the river, while an operation is in full swing to trace and rescue the missing passengers,” City Superintendent of Police (Bargi town) Anjul Mishra said,
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took cognisance of the incident and directed Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh to reach the site immediately. “The operation by the local administration and rescue forces continues unabated in Jabalpur regarding the tragic cruise accident at the Bargi Dam caused by a severe storm… Efforts are underway to locate those who are missing as quickly as possible. In this hour of crisis, the state government stands in full solidarity with the affected families with complete sensitivity, and every possible assistance is being ensured,” Yadav said in a post on X.
PWD minister Rakesh Singh, who reached the site soon after the incident, said an investigation would follow and declined to comment on allegations about whether a weather department warning of a storm was disregarded by the crew.
“This is an unfortunate incident. I was present at the spot. We have rescued at least 15 persons and 4 are reported dead. I have spoken to the Chief Minister and he has announced Rs 4 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased. We are focussing on rescue operations right now and after that we will investigate the case and fix responsibility,” the minister said.
इस हादसे में जो जनहानि हुई है, वह अत्यंत पीड़ादायक है। शोकाकुल परिजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं।
मृतकों के परिवारजनों को राज्य शासन की ओर से ₹4-4 लाख की आर्थिक सहायता प्रदान करने के निर्देश दिए हैं।
On the ground, rescue operations continued late into the night under difficult conditions. Police personnel and State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) teams were seen moving through the dark waters in motorboats, sweeping the area with torches as they searched for survivors. In some instances, rescuers formed human chains near the banks, while others scanned the surface for any signs of movement or floating debris.
Bodies recovered from the water were brought ashore in inflatable boats, with teams working methodically despite low visibility and choppy currents. Survivors, many in shock, were wrapped in blankets and shifted to safer areas as officials coordinated efforts along the shoreline.
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Senior district officials, including the collector and police officers, remained at the site overseeing the operation, which authorities said was being conducted on a war footing. Preliminary inputs point to the sudden storm as the immediate trigger, though officials indicated that a detailed inquiry would examine whether safety protocols, including passenger limits and life-saving equipment, were followed.
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy.
Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free.
Expertise and Reporting Beats
Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors:
National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres.
Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA).
Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking.
Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers.
Professional Background
Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017.
Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh.
Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs.
Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife.
Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance.
Digital & Professional Presence
Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express
Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
