“No Warning or Instruction Was Given Due To Bad Weather”: Boat Pilot On Bargi Dam Accident In MP

A leisure cruise at Madhya Pradesh's Bargi dam turned into a deadly disaster when a boat capsized, claiming nine lives and leaving several others missing. What began as a routine outing quickly spiralled into chaos as weather conditions changed abruptly, catching both passengers and crew off guard.

Sudden Weather Shift Midway Through Journey

Mahesh Patel, the pilot of the ill-fated boat, said the journey started under normal conditions from Khamariya island, with no indication of danger at departure.

"No warning or instruction was given to return due to bad weather," he said.

However, once the boat reached mid-water, strong winds picked up and waves intensified. Patel decided to turn the vessel back towards the shore, but by then the situation had already begun to deteriorate.

Panic As Water Entered Vessel

As rough waves hit the boat, water began entering, leading to panic among passengers. Some survivors later alleged that they had sensed danger earlier and urged the crew to return.

Patel rejected these claims. "No one said anything of the sort to me," he said.

According to NDTV, Patel had alerted the reception team as the situation worsened. "As the boat filled with water, I called the reception desk and requested that they dispatch another boat, warning them that an accident was imminent."

There were also allegations that life jackets were distributed late. Responding to this, Patel said, "Many passengers had initially refused life jackets, as they were dancing and enjoying themselves."

Final Moments Before The Capsize

Within 30 minutes of the cruise beginning, the situation spiralled beyond control. Patel, who has 15 years of experience, said he had never encountered such conditions before.

The engine room flooded, causing a complete loss of control and eliminating any chance of reaching the shore safely. With only two staff members onboard instead of the usual three, the crew tried to respond to the emergency.

"I made sure that a maximum number of passengers had life jackets on as the boat continued to sink. I was the last to leave," he said.

Despite these efforts, the boat capsized around 6.15 pm on Thursday.

Aftermath: Loss, Survival And Investigation

Following the incident, Patel, along with cruise helper Chhotelal Gond and ticket counter in-charge Brijendra, has been terminated. Speaking about his condition, he said, "I apologise, I am traumatised, unable to eat or sleep," adding that his family depended entirely on his Rs 27,000 monthly income.

He described the incident as a natural disaster and maintained that he holds valid licences and undergoes periodic safety and life-saving training.

So far, 28 people have been rescued, while four remain missing. Rescue operations continue despite challenging weather conditions, though hopes of finding survivors are fading after more than 40 hours.

Among the most heartbreaking recoveries was that of a woman and her son, found clutching each other. In another case, 72-year-old Riyaz Hussain survived for nearly four hours in the water by managing to keep his head above the surface before being rescued.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has said strict action will be taken against those responsible and that a Standard Operating Procedure for cruise operations will be introduced. Tourism Minister Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi has also ordered a detailed probe, including an investigation into the availability and use of life jackets.