MP boat tragedy: How labourers risked lives, formed human chain and saved dozens of lives

BARGI (JABALPUR): Amid heartbreaking scenes of lifeless bodies of tourists, who went down along with the cruise vessel in Bargi Dam, being pulled out on Friday, a group of unheralded heroes stood out for throwing caution to the winds and plunging into the choppy waters to save over a dozen lives.

Sensing imminent danger as the Bargi waters started to swallow the vessel, with the hapless tourists inside, a group of construction workers dropped their tools and jumped into the dam in a desperate and daring rescue attempt before professional rescuers could arrive.





Working on a project under the Centre's Jaal Jeevan Mission, just a short distance from where the cruise boat went down, the labourers reacted within moments, forming an impromptu rescue team.

With nothing more than ropes available, the workers, through sheer courage and call of conscience, staked their all as they dived into the rough waters and managed to pull a dozen passengers out to safety in the critical early minutes of the tragedy, locals recounted to TOI.

Also read: 'Told them to wear life jackets': Jabalpur cruise captain recalls final moments, says he hasn’t slept for 3 days

Among these selfless bravehearts was 22-year-old Ramzan from West Bengal, whose daring leap became one of the most striking moments of the rescue. Tying a rope around himself, he jumped from a rocky ledge nearly 25 feet high and swam through the stormy waters towards struggling passengers.

"I saw the boat going down and didn't think twice," Ramzan told TOI, adding, "I just grabbed a rope and jumped in."

He managed to pull out six people - four of whom survived while the other two could not be saved.

Another worker, 28-year-old Bindra Kumar Yadav from Bihar's West Champaran district, said about 35 labourers were working nearby as the cruise boat hurtled to its doom. "We saw the boat going out of control. I shouted to the pilot to stop," he recalled.

He then asked fellow workers to fetch ropes to try and pull the vessel towards the shore. "But the boat kept moving away from us till it sank," he added.

What followed was a desperate and courageous rescue effort. As the boat capsized and passengers dropped into the water, the workers jumped in one after another, forming a human chain.

With no safety gear or formal training, they relied purely on instinct and teamwork, pulling people out using ropes and their bare hands.

Raj Kumar (18) and Shivnath from UP's Gorakhpur said by the time they reached the spot, the boat had already sunk.

"Some people were already in the water before it (the vessel) went under," they said, adding, "We just pulled out however many we could."

Acknowledging their brave effort, pulling over a dozen passengers out to safety from the jaws of death, the state govt announced a cash reward of Rs 51,000 each for the heroic rescuers.



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