Bargi Cruise Accident Reaches High Court, PIL Seeks Ban on MP Boat Services

A public interest litigation over the Bargi cruise accident has been filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, seeking suspension of cruise and boat operations across the state until safety audits are completed. The petition alleges serious administrative lapses behind the April 30 tragedy in Jabalpur that claimed 13 lives.

PIL Filed In High Court

The controversial Bargi dam cruise accident in Jabalpur has now reached the Madhya Pradesh High Court, with a Bhopal resident filing a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging gross negligence by authorities and private operators.

The petition was submitted before the Jabalpur principal bench of the High Court by Kamal Kumar Rathi, who has sought criminal action against officials and operators linked to the incident. The PIL also demands an immediate halt on cruise and water tourism services operating across Madhya Pradesh until a comprehensive safety review is conducted.

The April 30 accident involving the “Narmada Cruise” at Bargi dam triggered statewide concern after the vessel overturned during rough weather conditions.

Questions Over Passenger Count

According to the petition, the cruise was carrying passengers beyond its permitted capacity at the time of the incident. The plea claims that while only 29 tickets had reportedly been issued, around 43 to 47 people were allegedly onboard.

So far, 13 people have died in the accident, while several others sustained injuries.

The PIL argues that the overcrowding, combined with poor emergency preparedness, directly contributed to the scale of the tragedy.

Weather Alert Ignored

One of the key allegations raised in the petition relates to weather warnings issued before the cruise departed.

The petitioner stated that the Meteorological Department had already issued alerts on April 29 regarding strong winds and adverse weather conditions. Despite this, cruise operations allegedly continued without restrictions.

The plea further claims that passengers were not provided life jackets before the journey began. Referring to statements from a woman passenger, the petition notes that life jackets were distributed only after water had begun entering the vessel, creating panic onboard.

Officials have not publicly responded in detail to these specific allegations so far.

Eight Parties Named

The PIL has named eight respondents, including the Madhya Pradesh government, MP Tourism Board, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Jabalpur Collector and Superintendent of Police.

According to the petition, the incident amounted to violations of provisions under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, as well as the National Disaster Management Authority’s Boat Safety Guidelines issued in 2017.

The petitioner has also sought accountability for officials responsible for permitting operations despite safety concerns.

Demand For Statewide Audit

The petition has urged the High Court to direct a statewide safety audit of all cruise boats, motorboats and houseboats functioning at water tourism sites in Madhya Pradesh.

It also calls for the framing and enforcement of stricter safety norms for commercial boat operations, including mandatory emergency preparedness measures and periodic inspections.

The PIL stresses that similar incidents could occur elsewhere if existing gaps in monitoring and compliance are not addressed.

Wetland Rules Mentioned

Another point raised in the petition concerns the ecological status of the Bargi dam area.

The petitioner argued that the Bargi reservoir falls under a wetland zone, where restrictions on motorised cruise activity had reportedly been discussed earlier. The plea refers to National Green Tribunal directions issued in 2023 against such operations in wetland regions, which were later upheld by the Supreme Court.

Despite this, commercial cruise services allegedly continued at the site.

Court Earlier Ordered FIR

The High Court petition comes days after a Jabalpur court directed registration of an FIR against the cruise pilot and staff members linked to the Bargi dam accident.

Judicial Magistrate First Class D.P. Sutrakar, while taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, observed that negligent handling of the cruise appeared to have contributed to the accident and the resulting deaths.

The matter is expected to come up for hearing in the High Court soon as scrutiny intensifies over safety standards in Madhya Pradesh’s growing water tourism sector.