The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted a single-member judicial committee to conduct an investigation into the tourist boat accident at Bargi Dam that claimed the lives of 13 people, a senior official said.
The committee will submit its report to the government within three months, the official said on Sunday.
The tourist boat, run by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department, capsized on April 30 at Bargi Dam in Jabalpur district, killing 13 people, including women and children, while 28 others were rescued.
The committee, which was formed on Sunday and headed by retired Supreme Court judge Sanjay Dwivedi, will investigate the causes of the accident and examine whether proper rescue and relief measures were taken and fix responsibility, the official said.
It will also make provisions for the audit and certification of boating, cruising and water sports activities under the Inland Vessels Act 2021 and the NDMA Boating Safety Guidelines 2017.
In addition, the committee will establish standard operating procedures for the operation and maintenance of boats, cruise activities and water sports and form a rapid response team in places where these activities are held, the official said.
The official added that the committee will complete the investigation and submit its report to the government within three months from the date of notification in the Official Gazette.
A judicial commission is important because it has greater public credibility and institutional weight than a routine administrative investigation.
