Following the Jabalpur cruise tragedy, laborers jumped into the Bargi Dam and saved the lives of a dozen people; CM announces reward.

Amidst the scenes on Friday of deceased tourists being recovered from the cruise boat that sank in the Bargi Dam, several unsung heroes emerged—individuals who leaped into the surging waters to save the lives of more than a dozen people.

The Madhya Pradesh government has announced a reward of ₹51,000 for each rescuer. As the dam waters began to engulf the boat, approximately 35 laborers—who were working nearby on a project under the Central Government’s ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’—immediately plunged into the dam. They abandoned their tools and rushed to provide aid even before professional rescue teams could arrive.

Over a Dozen Lives Saved

Relying solely on ropes, these laborers spontaneously formed a rescue team on the spot and leaped into the turbulent waters. Within the critical initial minutes of the rescue operation, they successfully pulled out a dozen passengers.

Laborers Form a Human Chain

The moment the boat capsized, the laborers jumped into the water one after another, joining hands to form a ‘human chain.’ Lacking any safety equipment or formal training, they relied on their instincts and used only ropes and their bare hands to pull people out of the water.

PM Modi Expresses Grief Over the Tragedy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences regarding this tragic incident. On the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), he announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund: ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, and ₹50,000 each for those injured in the accident.