Why did mother, son drown in Bargi despite life jackets?:Ill-fitting, wrong size turn fatal; know the correct way to use them

The cruise accident at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur left 13 families devastated. The most haunting image was of Marina Massey from Delhi and her 4-year-old son, Trishaan, whose bodies were found intertwined, both wearing life jackets. This raised critical questions: how did they die despite wearing life jackets? Was there negligence in how they were worn, or are they merely for show? To find answers, a Bhaskar reporter in Bhopal jumped into Upper Lake (Bada Talab) wearing a life jacket. Read about the reality of this safety shield, which can be fatal if worn incorrectly. Reality check: When the reporter himself jumped into the water There was silence at Bhopal’s Bada Talab (Big Lake). After the Jabalpur accident, boating was less, but security was strict. Here, the reporter met professional diver Ajay Keer. Ajay explained that a life jacket is not an ordinary piece of clothing, but scientific equipment. Is swimming really easy? The reporter jumped into the water wearing a jacket. In a few seconds, the jacket pushed the reporter’s head above the water. The professional diver explained that a good quality jacket can keep a person afloat for 5 to 6 hours. But there is only one condition- maintaining patience. Panicking after falling into the water is the biggest enemy. Mental strength is what keeps you on the surface. How does this safety shield work? According to Dr. Fauzia Haq, Professor of Physics at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), life jackets work on ‘Archimedes’ Principle’ (Principle of Buoyancy). Inside the jacket, there are PVC foam or small air pockets, which are very light compared to water. When a person falls into the water, the jacket pushes them upwards. This force is equal to the weight of the displaced water, allowing the person to float even without moving their hands and feet. Bargi accident: What happened to Marina and Trishaan? At the time of the accident, no one on the cruise was wearing a jacket. As soon as water filled in, chaos ensued. Swimming coach Pankaj Batham analysed the reasons that led to the death of the mother and son.