A tourist boat ride on the Narmada river near Bargi Dam in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, ended in tragedy after the vessel capsized, taking the death toll to nine.
According to reports, the boat left around 6 pm with 29 passengers and two staff members. When it reached the middle of the river, sudden stormy winds hit the area, triggering panic among those on board.
Survivors said they shouted for the boat to be turned back toward the shore, but their voices were not heard amid the noise of the moving boat. As the wind pushed it off course, the boat reportedly overturned.
Some passengers wearing life jackets tried to stay afloat but still drowned. Local residents and rescue teams rushed in, pulling out more than 20 people. Four bodies were recovered around 9 pm, and five more were found after hours of search.
During recovery, rescuers found the bodies of a mother and her four-year-old son attached to a single life jacket, a scene that left onlookers shaken. State minister Rakesh Singh visited the spot and said the cause would be clearer after rescue operations conclude, adding that an inquiry is under way.
