A Judicial Magistrate First Class in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday ordered the registration of an FIR into the cruise boat tragedy that killed 13 people at the Bargi Dam reservoir last week. The JMFC, D.P. Sutrakar, directed law enforcement to initiate criminal proceedings based on the incident's circumstances.

The magistrate held that the boat driver and crew members failed to take any action to rescue passengers who were drowning, which he classified as an attempt to commit culpable homicide under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The order follows a preliminary judicial review of the incident, which occurred during what was reported as an overcrowded recreational cruise.

Police are now required to file the FIR and begin an investigation into the roles of the boat operator, safety compliance, and regulatory oversight. The court will review the progress of the investigation in its next scheduled hearing on May 12, 2026.