Jabalpur tragedy: Helmsman breaks silence as toll rises to 11 after Bargi Dam boat capsizes

The article provides ongoing updates on the Bargi Dam capsize, including the helmsman's statement and victim repatriation arrangements.

Arnab Dasgupta, a union leader at the Jabalpur Ordnance Factory, said Kamraj K’s family would be flown by chartered plane to Trichy; the Tamil Nadu government has arranged onward transport from the airport for final rites in their native village.

The bodies of Sowbhagyam Alagar of Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu) and Kakujhali of Khamariya (Jabalpur) were transported to Coimbatore. Kakujhali’s five-year-old son was recovered Saturday evening; her husband Kamaraj and nephew Mayuram remain missing.

Officials said 43 tourists had boarded the vessel on Thursday, with 42 accounted for. 29 people were rescued and three are missing. Search operations, which resumed on Saturday morning, were repeatedly disrupted by sudden storms and high waves.

Helmsman Mahesh Patel stated he jumped only after all passengers had jumped and was 50–60 metres from shore when the vessel capsized. He said he alerted the Boat Club control room as conditions worsened and attributed the incident to nature’s fury.

Divers recovered the bodies of two children from Bargi Dam on Saturday evening, raising the death toll to 11. One child was identified as six-year-old Viraj Soni; the second child remained unidentified.

The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms in Jabalpur district for Thursday, a forecast survivors said should have kept the Bargi Boat ashore.