BHOPAL, May 1 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday met family members of the victims of the cruise boat accident that claimed nine lives at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur, and said those found guilty will not be spared.
He also announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the circumstances and other aspects related to the incident that occurred on Thursday.
During his meeting with the kin of the victims in Jabalpur, the CM turned emotional. He tried to console the family members.
Nine people died and 28 were rescued after the cruise boat overturned in the Bargi Dam, built on the Narmada River in Jabalpur district, after it encountered a sudden storm on Thursday evening.
CM Yadav visited Jabalpur and met the victims’ families. He assured them that the state government stood firmly with them in this hour of crisis.
Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda and Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh accompanied him.
Yadav travelled from Kotwali to Darhai Road. There, he visited the residence of Neetu Soni, who died in the accident, and expressed his condolences.
On seeing the CM at their home, a girl from the family could not hold back tears. Moved by it, Yadav placed his hand on her head and tried to console her and other family members. He also embraced two young children.
After that, Yadav met Riyaz Hussain, who narrowly escaped the cruise boat accident and was rescued nearly four hours later, at his home.
During the interaction, Riyaz told the CM that he felt he would not survive after the boat accident.
Talking to reporters later, CM Yadav said the tragedy occurred in the Narmada river, in which nine people died and 28 others were rescued.
The incident has shocked the entire state, he said.
As Jal Jeevan Mission work was underway near the site of the accident, a team involved in it extended help in the rescue operation. After being informed, the administration sent National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF teams to the spot, the CM said.
Skilled Army divers also took part in the rescue and relief efforts, he added.
“Riyaz Hussain was trapped in the cruise ship for four to five hours after the accident. I met him and the families of other victims,” he said.
The CM said a cash reward of Rs 51,000 would be given to those who saved the lives of others in the accident.
“The MP government has announced Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh each as financial assistance,” Yadav said.
The government is forming a high-level committee to investigate this incident. It will comprise the Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence, Secretary of the state government, and Commissioner of Jabalpur Division, he added.
This committee will focus on three aspects of the tragedy – firstly, its initial probe; secondly, the circumstances leading to the tragedy, and thirdly, whether protocols were followed at the time of the accident, he said.
“Our government will prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all activities, including boat tourism, cruise tourism, and adventure sports, to prevent such accidents in the future,” he said.
“Whoever is found guilty in the investigation report will not be spared. We must all take the weather department’s information seriously,” CM Yadav added.( PTI)
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