Search ends after Bargi Dam boat tragedy as final missing bodies are recovered, taking death toll to 13. A probe is now underway into storm-hit vessel’s safety and operations
The search operation at Bargi Dam in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district officially came to an end on Sunday morning after rescue teams recovered the body of the last missing passenger, bringing closure to a days-long effort following a deadly boat capsize.
Authorities confirmed that the body of five-year-old Mayuram was recovered earlier in the day, followed by Kamraj (50), an employee of the Ordnance Factory in Khamaria. With this, the death toll has risen to 13, according to PTI.
Sudden storm led to capsizing
The incident took place when a 20-year-old vessel operated by the state tourism department overturned during a sudden storm while carrying passengers. The
mishap led to a large-scale rescue operation that has now shifted into a formal investigation.
Officials said around 28 people were rescued immediately after the capsize, while others went missing in the chaotic aftermath.
#WATCH | Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: Neetu’s sister, Rakhi Soni, says, “… We had gone out for an outing. While taking photos, we were told the cruise was waiting for us. Soon after departure, strong winds and high waves struck. Passengers danced at first, but the situation… pic.twitter.com/TWhm8tKMop
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2026
A coordinated search operation involving more than 200 personnel was launched soon after the tragedy. Around 20 professional divers were airlifted from Agra, working alongside teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local divers.
Rescue teams scanned a five-kilometre radius and went nearly 40–50 feet into the water in their search for the missing passengers.
Video shows carefree moments before tragedy
A new video has surfaced showing the boat moments before it capsized, with tourists seen relaxing and enjoying strong winds, completely unaware of the danger ahead.
The clip, now widely circulating on social media, shows passengers smiling as powerful gusts sweep across the water. The force of the wind is clearly visible in the footage. At the time it was recorded, none of the passengers appear to be wearing life jackets.
A video has emerged from Jabalpur showing the moments just before a tragic cruise accident.
The weather suddenly turned bad , with strong winds and rough conditions. People were enjoying the moment, unaware of the danger and many were not wearing life jackets.
Later, some… pic.twitter.com/J8a4VPfdsY— The Nalanda Index (@Nalanda_index) May 1, 2026
Passenger count under scrutiny
Police have officially identified 41 passengers, while CCTV footage from the boarding point shows 43 people heading towards the vessel before it set sail. The discrepancy is now part of the ongoing investigation.
Following the tragedy, the Madhya Pradesh government ordered a high-level probe into possible structural and operational lapses that led to the capsize. Authorities also dismissed three crew members who were on board at the time of the incident.
The investigation is now focused on safety standards, overloading concerns, and the vessel’s condition before the ill-fated journey.
First Published:
May 03, 2026, 13:53 IST
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