‘We Were Left to Die’: Survivor Speaks Out on Bargi Dam Cruise Tragedy.

Jabalpur- A recreational outing turned tragic at Bargi Dam in Madhya Pradesh after a boat carrying tourists capsized during a sudden storm, with a survivor alleging serious negligence and lack of safety preparedness by the operator.

Sangeeta Kori, a resident of Delhi and one of the rescued passengers, described the terrifying sequence of events that unfolded on Thursday evening. She was among 16 individuals who were pulled to safety after the vessel overturned in the reservoir.

According to officials, the boat had around 29 passengers along with two crew members onboard when it was caught in strong winds while returning to shore. However, Kori claimed that the actual number of people on the vessel was significantly higher, alleging overcrowding and even the presence of children without tickets.

Recounting the ordeal, she said that her group had arrived in Jabalpur earlier in the day and decided to visit the dam in the evening. As the boat began its return journey, weather conditions worsened rapidly, with strong gusts and water entering the vessel.

Kori alleged that safety measures were poorly handled. “Life jackets were not given beforehand. They were kept aside and only brought out when the situation became critical. This led to panic among passengers, and in the chaos, the boat lost balance and overturned,” she said.

She further claimed that locals on the banks were warning the boat operator about the deteriorating weather and urging him to steer towards safety, but their calls were ignored. According to her, the operator appeared inexperienced, and timely action could have prevented the mishap.

The incident resulted in multiple casualties and missing persons. Kori revealed that while three members of her group managed to escape, one lost their life and two others are still unaccounted for.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on possible violations of safety norms, overcrowding, and the handling of emergency protocols.

The tragedy has once again raised serious concerns about enforcement of safety regulations at tourist sites and the preparedness of operators to handle emergency situations.