Accident ruins families:Silence prevails after Bargi cruise accident, livelihood crisis for hundreds of families

A small act of negligence not only claimed the lives of 13 people but also snatched away the livelihood of hundreds of families. Located at Bargi Dam, Maikal Resort, which earlier bustled with tourists from far and wide, wears a deserted look today. Thirteen people died in the Bargi cruise accident on April 30. After the accident, action was taken against those responsible, but no final accountability has been fixed yet. The matter reached the court, after which the state government constituted an inquiry commission and sought 90 days’ time. Local economy ruined after the accident The impact of the Bargi cruise accident was not limited to the tourism department. Hundreds of local families, dependent on the tourists who visit here, are now facing an employment crisis. Due to a sharp decline in the number of tourists, the businesses of shopkeepers, hawkers, and small traders have almost come to a standstill. Roadside vendors face increased difficulties Preeti Barman, a resident of Bargi Nagar, has been supporting her family for the past seven years by selling berries, fruits, and food items near the dam. She says that earlier the daily sale used to be between ₹300 to ₹400, but after the accident, it has dropped to ₹50 to ₹100.
Preeti explains that during summer vacations a large number of tourists used to come from Bhopal, Indore, and surrounding districts, but now, except for local people, almost everyone else has stopped coming here. Even in the evening, the area around the dam no longer has the same vibrancy as before. People forced to migrate According to Preeti, earlier 25 to 30 people used to make a living by selling fruits, cucumbers, and other goods by the roadside near Mekal Resort and Bargi Dam. Now the situation is such that only two or three people are seen here. Due to the complete halt in business, many people have migrated towards the city. Is heat the main reason for the lack of tourists? The decrease in tourist numbers is not solely due to the scorching heat. In fact, after the accident, water sports activities have been completely stopped, due to which tourists are avoiding coming here.
Anand, the manager of Mekal Resort, says that the heat and the end of school holidays are also a reason, but the biggest reason is the ban on boat club and water sports activities. He believes that if activities resume after the rain, the number of tourists might improve. Water Sports was the identity of Bargi tourism Apart from seeing the 21 gates of Bargi Dam, the biggest attraction for tourists coming here was water sports. Tourists thoroughly enjoyed activities like Mekal cruise, house boats, mini cruise, mechanised boats, speed boats, and jet ski. Along with this, the delicious dishes of Mekal Resort also attracted people.
However, after the cruise accident, all activities were stopped, which affected the entire tourism business. People skeptical after the accident Sumit Patel, who came to visit with his friends from Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, said that he visited Bhedaghat and Chausath Yogini Temple, but his curiosity to see Bargi Dam was different. He said that the whole world had seen the pictures of the cruise accident, so he came to know how such a big cruise sank. Sumit said that after the accident, such a fear has settled in his mind that he can never even think about riding a cruise again. Actions taken so far After the cruise accident, the government terminated the services of chief pilot Mahesh Patel, helper Chhotelal Gond, and ticket counter in-charge Brijendra. Meanwhile, Sunil Maravi, manager of Mekal Resort and Boat Club, has been suspended on charges of negligence.
Regional manager Sanjay Malhotra has been attached to the headquarters and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against him. Following the court’s directive, the process of filing an FIR against the pilot and other responsible persons has also been initiated. Impact across the state After the Bargi cruise accident, the state government has banned cruise and boating activities at several places in the state. Boat operations have also been stopped in Bhedaghat, Gwarighat, and Tilwaraghat in Jabalpur, affecting the livelihood of hundreds of boatmen and their families. Meanwhile, the closure of water sports activities has almost completely affected tourism in Bargi.