A deadly boat capsize on the Narmada River near Bargi Dam in India’s Madhya Pradesh has resulted in multiple casualties, with rescuers encountering a particularly poignant scene during recovery efforts. On Thursday morning (30 April), the bodies of a woman and her four-year-old son were found together, the child held tightly against his mother’s chest, indicating an apparent attempt to shield him as the vessel went down. The incident was reported by NDTV.
The victims were members of a four-person tourist family travelling from Delhi. While the father and daughter survived, the mother and young son were among those who died in the दुर्घटना. Officials have confirmed that the overall death toll has reached nine.
Survivor Syed Riaz Hossain provided an account of the ঘটনাক্রম, explaining how quickly conditions worsened. “The weather changed suddenly and a severe storm began. The boat lost stability and water started to enter within moments. Very quickly, my wife, mother-in-law, and grandson went missing,” he said.
Describing his own survival, Hossain stated that he remained partially submerged for nearly two hours, with only his nose above water. “I could see bodies floating past me. Eventually, rescue personnel located me and brought me to safety,” he added.
According to the Indian news agency IANS, by Friday morning, a total of 24 individuals had been rescued alive. Among them, 17 were admitted to hospital for treatment. However, nine people, including five children, are still missing. Members of Hossain’s family are also among those unaccounted for.
The boat’s captain, Mahesh Patel, survived the incident, reportedly due to having a life jacket. Search and rescue operations are being carried out by local police alongside teams from the State Disaster Response Force. The ongoing efforts have been hindered by strong currents and unfavourable weather conditions.
The key figures relating to the incident are summarised below:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Confirmed deaths | 9 |
| Rescued alive | 24 |
| Hospitalised | 17 |
| Missing (including children) | 9 |
Authorities have continued their operations in an effort to locate the missing individuals as conditions permit.