Image/PTI NEW DELHI: A trip meant to celebrate a housewarming function turned into a devastating tragedy for a Delhi family after three of its members died in a cruise boat accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur. A video of one of the deceased has surfaced in which the woman made a video call to her brother, showing him the scenic view moments before panic set in and she was heard crying, ‘Save me… save me,’ before the call abruptly disconnected.The Massey family from Delhi Cantonment had travelled to Jabalpur earlier this week to attend a relative’s housewarming ceremony. After the event on Tuesday, they decided to spend an extra day sightseeing before returning home.On Thursday evening, the family boarded a cruise boat operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department at the Bargi Dam on the Narmada river. The vessel, carrying around 40–43 passengers was caught in a sudden storm as strong winds and waves lashed the reservoir, causing it to lose balance and capsize.Among those who died were Marina, 39, her four-year-old son Trishan and her mother Madhur Massey, 62. Marina’s husband Pradeep, their 14-year-old daughter Siya and her father Julius Massey, 65, survived the incident.Recalling the moments before the tragedy, Marina’s brother Kuldeep Mohan said that the family had been in regular contact and were expected to return to Delhi soon.”My mother, father, sister, her children, and brother-in-law had gone to Jabalpur for a housewarming function. They were to return to Delhi on Thursday and reach by Friday. Instead, they went sightseeing and then this happened,” he told PTI.He described how the situation unfolded suddenly while Marina was on a video call with family members back home.”My sister was on a video call with us, showing us the view and the water. Then suddenly everything changed. She kept crying, ‘Save me… save me…’ and after that the phone disconnected,” he said.According to him, the family members were on the upper deck when the weather worsened rapidly.”The waves started rising, and the cruise became unbalanced. Everyone from the first floor rushed downstairs. The boat was shaking badly, and water began entering. Then, my brother-in-law, Pradeep, hurriedly started searching for life jackets,” he said.Kuldeep added that Pradeep began distributing life jackets as panic spread among passengers.”Some wore the jackets, while some jumped into the water in fear. Those who jumped were saved by local villagers using ropes and rescue equipment. My father was among those rescued,” he said.He said Pradeep, who knew some swimming, managed to save himself and his teenage daughter. However, by the time he tried to locate the others, they had disappeared.”By the time my brother-in-law could look for my sister, her child and my mother, they had gone missing under the ship,” he said.Relatives have alleged negligence by the boat operators and authorities, claiming that no warning was issued despite a weather alert.”A yellow alert had already been issued, but no one informed them. If they had told people the weather was dangerous, and the boat could not operate, nobody would have boarded,” Mohan said.He also raised concerns about the lack of a permanent rescue system at the tourist spot.”It was hardly 150 to 200 metres from the shore, but the waves were so strong that people kept getting pushed back. If it is a tourist place, there should be a permanent rescue team. Emergencies do not come with warning,” he said.Another relative, Sangeeta Kori, alleged that the boat was overloaded and that warnings from locals were ignored.”It is sheer negligence. They have turned it into a source of income, and there was no concern for safety. People from the village were shouting and signalling to him which side to bring the boat. Had he brought it this side, they might have been saved. But he kept steering the other way, and it capsized,” she said.Meanwhile, officials said the death toll in the accident has risen to nine, with several others still missing. Around 28 people have been rescued so far, while search operations continue.Preliminary findings indicate that wind speeds surged to 60–70 kmph around Thursday evening, creating turbulent conditions that destabilised the vessel. Survivors have also alleged that life jackets were distributed only after the boat began to sink, leaving little time for passengers to respond.The state government has ordered a probe into the incident. Compensation of Rs 4 lakh each has been announced for the families of those who died.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia May Rethink Conventional Missile Strategy As Global Conflicts Redefine Warfare: Defence SecyPune: 4-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Sexually Assaulted and Murdered by 65 Year-Old-Man in Bhor‘No Further Orders Necessary’: SC Bench Rejects TMC Plea On Counting StaffFormer Diplomats React To Bangladesh Summoning Indian Envoy Over Assam CM Himanta’s Remarks‘Stop Poking Nose In India’s Internal Affairs’: JKSA Slams Pakistan Over Jamia Protest RemarksDelhi, Dhaka Move To Resume Full-Scale Visa Services Amid Ties ResetFuel Prices May Go Up Soon As Oil Firms Face Losses Amid Global Crude SpikeNine Dead As Tourist Boat Capsizes In Jabalpur, Survivors Allege Major Safety LapsesJPMorgan Executive Sued Over Sexual Abuse, Coercion And Racial Harassment Allegations In New YorkJabalpur Boat Tragedy: Mother Found Clutching Child After Bargi Dam Capsize, 9 Dead123PhotostoriesDog breeds that have been a part of the British Royal FamilyArchana Puran Singh to buy a new bungalow worth approximately Rs 50 crore in Madh Island; says, ‘Not sure if we can afford it but…’Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni head to court: Here’s all we know about the case ahead of the trialRs 6,700 crore project: How ‘missing link’ will improve Mumbai–Pune connectivityWhy Bengaluru’s long-awaited double-decker flyover is a big win for commutersCheteshwar Pujara, aka “The Wall’s”, ₹4 crore Gujarat villa is rooted in family living, Test cricket legacy and quiet luxuryThe love between Krishna and Yashoda holds 5 lessons every mother should know8 black superfoods you should add to your diet todayDog breeds that can survive in Australian climate5 European cities where food is cheaper than you think123Hot PicksExit Poll Result 2026Bengal Election 2026Bengal ElectionPM ModiAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingUS Germany relationsBank Holiday MayVande Bharat expressLPG cylinder price hikeMumbai missing linkPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap
NEW DELHI: A trip meant to celebrate a housewarming function turned into a devastating tragedy for a Delhi family after three of its members died in a cruise boat accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur. A video of one of the deceased has surfaced in which the woman made a video call to her brother, showing him the scenic view moments before panic set in and she was heard crying, ‘Save me… save me,’ before the call abruptly disconnected.The Massey family from Delhi Cantonment had travelled to Jabalpur earlier this week to attend a relative’s housewarming ceremony. After the event on Tuesday, they decided to spend an extra day sightseeing before returning home.On Thursday evening, the family boarded a cruise boat operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department at the Bargi Dam on the Narmada river. The vessel, carrying around 40–43 passengers was caught in a sudden storm as strong winds and waves lashed the reservoir, causing it to lose balance and capsize.Among those who died were Marina, 39, her four-year-old son Trishan and her mother Madhur Massey, 62. Marina’s husband Pradeep, their 14-year-old daughter Siya and her father Julius Massey, 65, survived the incident.Recalling the moments before the tragedy, Marina’s brother Kuldeep Mohan said that the family had been in regular contact and were expected to return to Delhi soon.“My mother, father, sister, her children, and brother-in-law had gone to Jabalpur for a housewarming function. They were to return to Delhi on Thursday and reach by Friday. Instead, they went sightseeing and then this happened,” he told PTI.He described how the situation unfolded suddenly while Marina was on a video call with family members back home.“My sister was on a video call with us, showing us the view and the water. Then suddenly everything changed. She kept crying, ‘Save me… save me…’ and after that the phone disconnected,” he said.According to him, the family members were on the upper deck when the weather worsened rapidly.“The waves started rising, and the cruise became unbalanced. Everyone from the first floor rushed downstairs. The boat was shaking badly, and water began entering. Then, my brother-in-law, Pradeep, hurriedly started searching for life jackets,” he said.Kuldeep added that Pradeep began distributing life jackets as panic spread among passengers.“Some wore the jackets, while some jumped into the water in fear. Those who jumped were saved by local villagers using ropes and rescue equipment. My father was among those rescued,” he said.He said Pradeep, who knew some swimming, managed to save himself and his teenage daughter. However, by the time he tried to locate the others, they had disappeared.“By the time my brother-in-law could look for my sister, her child and my mother, they had gone missing under the ship,” he said.Relatives have alleged negligence by the boat operators and authorities, claiming that no warning was issued despite a weather alert.“A yellow alert had already been issued, but no one informed them. If they had told people the weather was dangerous, and the boat could not operate, nobody would have boarded,” Mohan said.He also raised concerns about the lack of a permanent rescue system at the tourist spot.“It was hardly 150 to 200 metres from the shore, but the waves were so strong that people kept getting pushed back. If it is a tourist place, there should be a permanent rescue team. Emergencies do not come with warning,” he said.Another relative, Sangeeta Kori, alleged that the boat was overloaded and that warnings from locals were ignored.“It is sheer negligence. They have turned it into a source of income, and there was no concern for safety. People from the village were shouting and signalling to him which side to bring the boat. Had he brought it this side, they might have been saved. But he kept steering the other way, and it capsized,” she said.Meanwhile, officials said the death toll in the accident has risen to nine, with several others still missing. Around 28 people have been rescued so far, while search operations continue.Preliminary findings indicate that wind speeds surged to 60–70 kmph around Thursday evening, creating turbulent conditions that destabilised the vessel. Survivors have also alleged that life jackets were distributed only after the boat began to sink, leaving little time for passengers to respond.The state government has ordered a probe into the incident. Compensation of Rs 4 lakh each has been announced for the families of those who died.
