Five of the nine people killed in the Bargi Dam boat tragedy in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district on Thursday belonged to one family from Tamil Nadu, a relative of the victims said on Saturday, as authorities began efforts to return the bodies to their place of origin.
The victims included two women – Karkozhali, 38, and Subhakiam, 42 – Karkozhali’s husband Kamaraj, 38, and their four-year-old son Tamilvindan, and Subhakiam’s seven-year-old son Mayuran. All of them are residents of Anna Nagar in Dharapuram in Tirupur district.
Kamaraj’s mother, Rajalakshmi, told reporters: “My daughter-in-law went with my grandson (Tamilvindan) to visit Subhakiam’s house in Madhya Pradesh. During the trip, they went to the boat where the accident happened.”
Officials said the victims were among nine people who died after a tourist boat capsized and sank in the Bargi Dam after a sudden storm on Thursday evening. Twenty-two people were rescued.
A senior government official in Tirupur said that arrangements were made on Saturday to transport the bodies to Tamil Nadu.
“I think two of the bodies will come via Tiruchirappalli. We expect the rest to reach the district directly later,” the official told HT, on condition of anonymity.
Responding to a query regarding compensation, the official said it would be provided as per procedure.
The official added: “Since there are only two days left until the votes are counted, I cannot say more than this.”
Authorities said further steps were being taken to ensure the return of the victims’ bodies and to assist the victims’ families.
