News of a devastating accident in Madhya Pradesh has triggered reactions from across the country, with many expressing shock and grief over the incident. Among them is actor Bhumi Pednekar, who shared an emotional note after learning about the tragedy.
Taking to Instagram Stories, Bhumi responded to reports of the boat accident at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur district. Reacting to the incident, she wrote, “This is so tragic and heartbreaking. There has to be accountability taken.” She also added, “Praying for the families that have been affected. The visual of a mother holding her son will live with me forever,” referring to a moment during rescue operations that deeply affected her.
The incident took place on Thursday evening when a tourist boat named
Narmada Queen capsized in the reservoir on the Narmada river during a storm. While official records suggest tickets were issued for 29 passengers, locals and survivors claim that the boat was carrying between 43 and 45 people at the time.
Rescue operations are still ongoing, with authorities confirming that 10 people have lost their lives, while efforts continue to locate three missing tourists. In one particularly distressing moment, divers recovered the body of a woman still holding her child inside the overturned vessel.
Survivors have raised concerns about possible lapses in safety measures. Speaking to PTI, a tourist from Delhi, Sangeeta Kori, said, “No one was made to wear life jackets beforehand.” She described the situation turning chaotic once water began entering the boat. “There was a lot of negligence. The pilot of the boat wasn’t listening at all. People from the village were shouting and signaling him to bring the cruise to a safer side, but he kept going the same way, which caused it to overturn suddenly,” she said.
The boat was reportedly operated by the state tourism department. Following the incident, the Madhya Pradesh government has ordered a probe and dismissed three crew members. It has also temporarily banned the operation of similar vessels in the state.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited the accident site, while financial assistance has been announced for those affected. The Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will provide ₹2 lakh to the families of those who died and ₹50,000 to the injured.
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