Narmada cruise boat capsizes in MP's Jabalpur: 9 Dead as Rescue Ops Continue

A tragic rescue operation at Bargi Dam near Jabalpur turned even more heartbreaking when the ninth body recovered was that of a mother found holding her three-year-old child tightly in her arms.

Rescue teams said both were wearing life jackets, but the child remained pressed against the mother even in death, leaving personnel visibly shaken at the site. Their bodies were brought to shore as recovery efforts continued amid difficult conditions.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening when an MP Tourism cruise boat carrying around 40 to 45 passengers capsized about 300 metres from the embankment after being caught in a sudden storm. Strong winds of nearly 40 kmph and heavy rainfall caused the vessel to lose control and sink rapidly.

By Friday, nine bodies had been recovered while 16 passengers were rescued on Thursday. However, officials are still uncertain about the exact number of people missing, raising fears that several may remain trapped inside the sunken vessel.

The capsized boat is lodged nearly 20 feet deep in the reservoir, making rescue efforts challenging. Divers, boats, and heavy machinery have been deployed to reach the wreckage and pull it closer to shore for access.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, and paramilitary teams are jointly conducting round-the-clock operations. A helicopter has also been deployed for aerial monitoring and coordination of the rescue mission.

Survivors have alleged lapses in safety arrangements, claiming life jackets were either not provided or distributed only after the vessel began sinking. Local villagers were among the first responders, using ropes to pull people out of the water.

One survivor family from the Ordnance Factory in Khamaria has been severely affected, with multiple members still missing.

Officials say the image of a mother and child found together has deeply affected rescue teams as anxious families continue to wait along the banks of the Narmada River for news of their loved ones.