Revelations in Bargi cruise accident raise questions:Wheat surveyor company operated vessel despite having no experience in water transport

A major revelation has emerged in the Bargi Dam cruise accident case, where 13 people drowned. The cruise was allegedly being operated by RB Associate Global Connect Private Limited, a wheat surveyor company, raising serious questions over its role and experience. Sources said most employees at the Tourism Department’s Bargi Mekal Resort were appointed through the company. Of the nearly 35 staff members at the resort, only five are regular employees, while around 30 work on an outsourced basis. Cruise pilot Mahesh Patel and his colleagues, who were operating the vessel during the accident, were also employees of RB Associate. The company was responsible for their salaries and operational management. Main work is to appoint surveyors and quality inspectors It has come to light in the matter that RB Associate is a company that provides human resources. Its main work is to appoint surveyors and quality inspectors in the agricultural sector. According to the company’s official website, this firm, established in 2022, has been providing wheat quality testing and surveyors for the Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation and the State Cooperative Marketing Federation. Company has no experience in water transport or cruise operation Agencies investigating various aspects According to sources, after the accident, investigative agencies are scrutinizing employee training, safety standards, and disaster management arrangements. It is also being examined whether outsourced employees were given adequate training in water safety and handling emergencies. Sanjay Malhotra, who was the Jabalpur regional officer at the time of the incident, said that hundreds of employees work on an outsourced basis in the tourism department, and RB Associate has been awarded the contract to provide manpower. However, he declined to comment further, stating that he had been transferred. Company not under investigation’s scrutiny The responsibility for investigating this accident has been assigned at different levels, in addition to the judicial commission. All aspects are being investigated, but so far, this company has not come under the scanner. RB Associate Bhopal is a human resource management and outsourcing services company. It has been recruiting surveyors, quality inspectors, computer operators, and warehouse employees for various government departments. The recently removed ticket counter employee, Brijendra Nayak, is also said to be an employee of this company.