Jabalpur, May 13: In a decisive move following the tragic cruise accident at Bargi Dam that claimed 13 lives, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a suspension of all cruise services and boating club operations across the state during the ongoing judicial investigation.
This directive was issued during the hearing of public interest litigations (PILs), including a significant petition filed by social activist Pushpa Tiwari. The case was presented before a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Sarraf.
During the proceedings, the Madhya Pradesh government submitted its response to the court, informing that a judicial inquiry committee has been formed under the chairmanship of retired Justice Sanjay Dwivedi to investigate the incident that occurred on April 30 near Jabalpur.
The government stated that the committee has already commenced its investigation into the circumstances leading to this tragedy and is expected to submit its report within three months.
Additionally, the government notified the bench that all cruise services and boating club activities across the state have been temporarily suspended.
The High Court instructed the inquiry panel to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the incident, including whether safety standards and operational protocols were violated during the cruise’s operation.
The court also mentioned that any citizen wishing to provide information or suggestions related to this tragedy may present their views to the inquiry committee.
Advocate Gopesh Yash Tiwari, representing petitioner Pushpa Tiwari, informed the media that these petitions were filed to ensure an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident.
Tiwari stated, “The state government has submitted its response in court, indicating the formation of a judicial committee that will present its investigation report within three months. Following this, the court directed the committee to conduct a comprehensive inquiry encompassing all relevant aspects. Meanwhile, the court has imposed a ban on boating activities at all boating clubs across Madhya Pradesh during the ongoing investigation.”
This tragedy occurred on April 30 when a cruise ship operating in the Bargi Dam reservoir capsized after being caught in a storm. The incident resulted in the loss of 13 tourists, including eight women, four children, and one man, while 28 others were rescued after an extensive search operation.
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