A court in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, has directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) following a boat capsizing incident in the Bargi Dam reservoir on April 30. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including women and children, while 28 people were rescued. On May 5, 2026, the court took suo motu cognizance of the matter, citing reports from newspapers and social media indicating alleged inappropriate operation by the boat’s driver and a reported failure by crew members to assist drowning passengers.
The directive mandates the Bargi police station to register the FIR within two days against the driver and other crew members who were present on the boat during the incident. The vessel was reportedly operated by the state tourism department. The court also commended those individuals who participated in the rescue efforts for the victims of the capsized boat.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/madhya-pradesh/madhya-pradesh-court-orders-registration-of-fir-in-jabalpur-boat-tragedy-that-killed-13-people/article70945442.ece
