Jabalpur boat tragedy: 4 letters warned of engine issue, last one sent in March

Authorities were repeatedly warned that a cruise boat operating at Madhya Pradesh's Bargi Dam was unfit for operation, months before it sank on April 30 and killed 13 people, according to letters written by the resort operating the vessel.

Documents show that Maikal Resort wrote to the Regional Manager of the tourism department three times in 2025, flagging that the boat's engines were faulty and could stop at any time, potentially causing a major accident. The resort also noted that during strong winds and high waves, the boat had to be towed to shore using a speedboat.

Despite the warnings, neither was permission granted to replace the engines nor was the boat's operation suspended.

The first letter prompted a departmental inspection on April 16, 2025, which recommended replacing the cruise engines. No action followed.

A second letter was sent on August 11, 2025, and a third on November 17, 2025, with the same complaint. The Tourism Department did not act on either.

On March 30, weeks before the tragedy, Maikal Resort wrote a final letter to the Regional Manager, again stating that the cruise was not fit to operate. It was the last communication before the boat sank.

The cruise boat, operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department, capsized during a storm on April 30, killing 13 passengers. The remaining 28 passengers were rescued by a team comprising 20 Army divers, personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and local divers.

The matter is being investigated by retired Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Sanjay Dwivedi after the government dismissed three crew members and banned the operation of similar vessels across the state.

- Ends