Death Toll Hits 13 in Jabalpur Cruise Tragedy as Rescuers Recover Final Body

Jabalpur (IANS): The death toll at the Jabalpur cruise tragedy touched 13. The Jabalpur administration confirmed the conclusion of search and rescue operations at Bargi Dam on Sunday following the recovery of the final missing person’s body. The recovery of Kamaraj’s remains marks the end of a multi-day effort triggered by a tourist cruise boat capsizing during a severe storm on April 30.

The total death toll from the disaster now stands at 13. Earlier on Sunday morning, rescue teams located the body of nine-year-old Mayuran, Kamaraj’s nephew and a resident of Trichy. These discoveries follow the recovery of two other children, four-year-old Viraj Soni and six-year-old Sri Tamil, on Saturday.

While 13 people perished, local residents and official teams successfully rescued 28 individuals from the water. The accident occurred around 5:30 p.m. near Khamariya Island when a sudden, fierce storm caused the vessel to capsize under massive waves. In a tragic discovery during the rescue phase, workers found Marina Massey holding her four-year-old son, Trishaan, tightly against her chest; she had secured the child inside her own life jacket in a desperate attempt to save him.

Investigations into the tragedy highlight significant safety lapses:

• Overcrowding: The boat carried more than 40 tourists despite officials only issuing 29 tickets.
• Weather Warnings: Operators allowed the boat to depart despite an Orange alert from the Meteorological Department warning of 50 km/h wind speeds.
• Safety Equipment: Reports indicate many passengers were not wearing life jackets when the boat sank.

Authorities have begun transporting the victims to their home cities for final rites. On Saturday, officials sent the remains of three Massey family members to New Delhi, while two other victims were flown to Coimbatore via air cargo.

Local fishermen and farmers acted as first responders, pulling 15 people to safety before specialized units from the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and police took over the operation. The administration now faces intense scrutiny regarding the oversight of safety protocols at the dam.