When panic swept through Jabalpur, it was not trained rescuers but a group of 35 labourers who stepped forward to save lives.
The incident unfolded at Bargi Dam, where a cruise boat began to sink after a sudden storm hit. Chaos quickly took over. Passengers screamed for help as the situation spiralled out of control.
In that moment of fear and confusion, the labourers working nearby emerged as unlikely heroes. Without training, equipment, or waiting for instructions, they acted on instinct. Armed with nothing but ropes and courage, they rushed towards the water.
Holding onto each other’s hands, they formed a human
chain and entered the raging current.
Holding onto each other’s hands, they formed a human chain and entered the raging current. Their first attempt was to pull the boat towards the shore. But as it went under, they realised there was no option left but to jump in and bring people back themselves.
Among them was 22-year-old Ramzan, who tied a rope around his waist and leapt from nearly 25 feet into the water. He managed to pull out six people. Alongside him, 18-year-olds Raj Kumar and Shivnath used ropes to bring others back to safety.
There were no life jackets. No protective gear. Just a shared refusal to stand by and watch someone lose their life.
One by one, 12 people were rescued — not by professionals, but by workers who chose to act when it mattered most.
For their courage, each of the labourers was awarded Rs 51,000. But what they gave in that moment goes far beyond any reward.
In the face of danger, they did not hesitate. They stepped forward, held on to one another, and became the difference between life and loss.
Sources:
‘MP boat tragedy: How labourers risked lives, formed human chain and saved dozens of lives’: by Siddharth Shankar, Published in TOI on 2 May 2026.
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