Cruise Boat Pilot Opens Up About Devastating Accident

Imagine being on a fun boat trip with your friends and family, and suddenly, a storm hits. The waves get so high that they crash over the deck, and the boat starts filling up with water. That's exactly what happened to a group of tourists in Madhya Pradesh, India when their cruise boat sank in the Bargi Dam. Nine people lost their lives in the accident.
The pilot of the boat, Mahesh Patel, has spoken out about the incident to NDTV, a local news channel. He profusely apologized to the families of the victims, but he didn't take full responsibility for the accident. Instead, he described it as an "act of nature." Patel claimed that the weather was fine when they set off, but as soon as they reached the spot, strong winds began to blow.
Patel said he immediately turned the boat around, but the storm intensified rapidly. He claimed that he requested the hotel's reception desk to send a rescue boat as the accident was imminent, but it's unclear if anyone actually took action. Patel also revealed a major safety lapse - the passengers weren't given life jackets before they boarded the boat.
When NDTV asked why the tourists weren't issued life jackets earlier, Patel claimed that people often refuse to wear them. He said the passengers were dancing and enjoying themselves, so they weren't wearing the jackets. Patel also said that he lost control of the vessel around 200 meters from the shore, and that the waves crashed as high as the front glass on the boat.
Patel has a valid license issued by the authorities in Goa, and he claims to have undergone mandatory training every two years, including life-saving techniques. However, the big question is - if he was adequately trained, why were passengers not made to wear the jackets before they boarded the boat? Patel also revealed another major safety lapse - the boat crew typically consists of three members, but on that day, there was only one assistant and him.
The incident has left many questions unanswered, but Patel's account has shed some light on what happened. He admitted to some safety lapses, but he claimed that the accident was largely out of his control. The survivors have a different story to tell, and their accounts may contradict Patel's version of events.