Eyewitnesses have described scenes of panic and chaos after a cruise boat carrying tourists capsized in rough waters at Bargi Dam on Thursday, leaving at least nine people dead and several others injured or missing.

Rescue operations are still underway as teams search the reservoir.

According to those present at the site, strong winds and alleged negligence by the boat operator led to the tragic incident. The boat, carrying 29 passengers, reportedly overturned mid-water despite repeated warnings from tourists to steer towards the shore.

"It was really windy. We told the boat operator to come to the other end, but he paid no heed. It started for the other side but capsized in the middle of the dam," said eyewitness Samrat. He added that several passengers wearing life jackets attempted to jump into the water as the vessel overturned. "We safely rescued about 15-16 people... We rushed them to the hospital. The bodies were taken away," he said.

Another eyewitness, Tuhin, also said passengers had raised concerns before the incident. "The boat was shaking. People told the boat operator to pull the boat to our side and anchor it here. But he paid no heed. He took the boat in the middle of the water once again, and it capsized," he said, adding that he personally helped rescue at least five to six passengers.

Sharing updates about the incident, State Minister Rakesh Singh says, "...So far 9 bodies have been recovered. 22 people have been rescued alive... The situation is very difficult; there are challenges, hence only expert teams can carry out the rescue."

Rescue operations by SDRF and NDRF underway

Following the incident in Jabalpur, search and rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed immediately. Officials confirmed that 15 people have been rescued so far, while search operations continue for those still missing.

Authorities said the cruise was operating as part of recreational boating activities at Bargi Dam when the accident occurred. The death toll has now risen to nine, with bodies found and sent for postmortem examination.

A senior official said the exact cause of the capsizing is under investigation. Initial eyewitness accounts, however, point to strong winds combined with possible human error.

Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla called the incident "deeply tragic" and assured a thorough probe into safety lapses and operational conditions.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over boating safety, cruise operations in reservoirs, and disaster preparedness at popular tourist water spots in Madhya Pradesh.

With ANI inputs