A fatal boat accident on the Narmada River near Bargi Dam in India’s Madhya Pradesh state has revealed a deeply distressing scene, as rescue workers recovered the bodies of a woman and her four-year-old son locked in an embrace. The incident occurred on Thursday morning (30 April), when a sudden storm caused a passenger boat to capsize. According to NDTV, the mother appeared to have held her child tightly to her chest in a final attempt to protect him, though both ultimately lost their lives.
The victims were part of a four-member tourist family visiting from Delhi. While the father and daughter survived the incident, the mother and son were among those who died. Authorities have confirmed that the total death toll from the accident has reached nine.
One of the survivors, Syed Riaz Hossain, recounted the sequence of events to the media, describing how rapidly the situation deteriorated. “The weather turned abruptly, and a powerful storm began. Within moments, the boat lost balance and water started entering. In the blink of an eye, my wife, mother-in-law, and grandson disappeared,” he said.
Hossain described his survival as extraordinary, stating that he remained trapped in the water for nearly two hours, with only his nose above the surface. “Bodies were floating past me one after another. Eventually, rescuers spotted me and pulled me out,” he added.
According to the news agency IANS, as of Friday morning, 24 individuals had been rescued alive. Of these, 17 were receiving medical treatment in hospital. However, nine individuals, including five children, remain missing. Some of the missing are also members of Hossain’s family.
The boat’s captain, Mahesh Patel, survived the incident, reportedly because he had access to a life jacket. Multiple teams from the local police and the State Disaster Response Force are continuing search and rescue operations in the area. Strong river currents and adverse weather conditions have made the operation significantly more challenging.
A summary of the confirmed figures is provided below:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Confirmed deaths | 9 |
| Rescued alive | 24 |
| Hospitalised | 17 |
| Missing (including children) | 9 |
Rescue efforts remain ongoing as authorities continue searching for those still unaccounted for.
