In a heart-wrenching moment during rescue operations in Madhya Pradesh, divers recovered the body of a woman still clutching her child inside the capsized tourist boat in Bargi Dam, a scene that left even experienced rescuers shaken.
The recovery came as the death toll in the boat tragedy rose to nine on Friday. The incident occurred when a tourist cruise boat capsized in the reservoir on the Narmada river during a storm a day earlier.
A diver recounted the haunting discovery, saying the team initially faced difficulty retrieving the body of the woman from the wreckage due to cramped, hazardous conditions.
When they looked closer, they realised why – the woman was tightly hugging her child. They were inseparable, it was difficult to separate them. Our team was deeply moved by the scene.
Rescue teams have managed to save 28 passengers, while four people are still reported missing. Authorities said tickets had been issued for 29 passengers, but survivors claimed that the boat was carrying between 43 and 45 people at the time of the accident, raising concerns over possible overcrowding.
Rescue efforts resumed on Friday with reinforcements, including an army team, a helicopter from Hyderabad, and a special paramilitary unit from Kolkata.
