Mother Clutching Son Found Dead After Cruise Boat Capsizes in Madhya Pradesh; Nine Killed, Six Missing

Key facts

• Nine people dead after cruise boat capsized on Narmada River near Bargi Dam on Thursday.
• Bodies of a mother and her four-year-old son recovered Friday morning; mother was clutching child.
• 24 people rescued as of Friday morning; 17 hospitalized.
• Six tourists still missing, including five children.
• Cruise captain Mahesh Patel survived wearing a life jacket.
• State government ordered an inquiry and suspended all cruise boat operations.
• PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh compensation for families of deceased, ₹50,000 for injured.
• Search operations by Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local police ongoing.

Desperate Rescue Amid Sudden Storm

A mother and her four-year-old son died Thursday after the cruise boat they were on overturned in the Narmada River, near Madhya Pradesh's Bargi Dam. Rescuers found their bodies Friday morning, the mother clutching the child to her chest in a desperate attempt to save him. They were part of a family of four tourists from Delhi. The father and daughter managed to escape the horrific accident that has claimed nine lives so far. Teams of search and rescue personnel — local police, district officials, and the State Disaster Response Force — have been deployed and are working urgently to save the others.

Survivor Recounts Two-Hour Ordeal Trapped Underwater

Syed Riyaz Hussain told NDTV that his wife, mother-in-law, and grandson "disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye" when the weather suddenly worsened and a strong storm started blowing. "The boat was becoming unbalanced and, in no time, started filling up with water," he said. "No one could understand what was happening. There was screaming… the boat was sinking and people were crying for help," he said. "I was also drowning. It seemed I was going to die." Then, Hussain said, a 'miracle' happened. "As I was underwater and fighting to survive, I was stuck in a spot where only my head was above water. I was able to breathe but I was trapped for nearly two hours. I could see bodies floating past me. Fortunately, rescue teams spotted me and I was saved." Hussain's family are among those still missing.

Death Toll Rises to Nine as Search Continues

Rescuers recovered five more bodies from Bargi Dam in Jabalpur district, taking the death toll to nine after the cruise boat capsized. The search continues for six missing tourists. Around 28 passengers were rescued. Teams from the Army, NDRF and SDRF are continuing operations in the reservoir, where the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department-run boat overturned on Thursday, officials said. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said rescue teams had evacuated about 29 people and confirmed nine deaths. Four passengers had died on the day of the incident.

Government Orders Probe, Suspends Cruise Operations

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident and suspended cruise boat operations. The vessel capsized during a sudden storm on the Narmada River. Yadav expressed condolences and said locals who helped rescue passengers would be honoured on Independence Day. He added that the tourism department would investigate the incident and review safety measures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences and announced compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of those killed and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Boat Recovered, No Additional Victims Found Onboard

The boat has been recovered, and no additional passengers were found inside, police said. A search is ongoing for the remaining missing tourists.jul Aayan Mishra. The cruise captain, Mahesh Patel, who had a life jacket, survived. The accident is the latest in a series of mishaps at tourist hubs in Madhya Pradesh, raising questions about safety protocols for river cruises.

The bottom line

• Nine people died, including a mother and her four-year-old son found clutching each other, after a cruise boat capsized in the Narmada River near Bargi Dam.
• Six tourists remain missing, among them five children; search operations by Army, NDRF, and SDRF are ongoing.
• Survivor Syed Riyaz Hussain was trapped underwater for nearly two hours before being rescued; his family is still missing.
• The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry and suspended all cruise boat operations pending safety review.
• Prime Minister Modi announced compensation of ₹2 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
• The boat captain Mahesh Patel survived; the recovered vessel contained no additional victims.