At least nine people have died after a cruise boat capsized in Bargi Dam on the Narmada River near Jabalpur on 30 April. (Times of India, 2 May 2026) Jordan Peterson states, “A hurricane is an act of God. But failure to prepare, when the necessity for preparation is well known – that’s sin. That’s a failure to hit the mark.” The development of science, the availability of tools, and the accessibility of information, such as weather forecasts, provide insights into preparing to meet such tragedies.
Life is sacred: Each human is created in the image of God; hence, life is sacred, and people should be treated with dignity.
Warning: When a warning is provided, fools reject it. (Proverbs 23:9) Fools are arrogant and careless. (Proverbs 14:16) Regarding the weather, an Orange Alert was given. There was an indication that the weather may not be conducive to undertaking such a journey. Paul also warned the captain of the ship regarding the weather, but the captain of the ship went ahead, and the ship was wrecked. (Acts 27: 13-144) The Holy Scripture is given to warn humans about their spiritual life. Those who do not heed the warning of God and refuse to repent will perish. (II Timothy 3:15-17)
Lifejacket: In aero planes and ships, lifejackets are provided. In case of an accident, people could wear the lifejacket and float in the water until rescuers arrive. In this case, the lifejackets were there but sealed. Before it could be taken and given to the people on board, a few people were struggling in the water.
Helpers: There are prescribed standards like the number of members in the crew, the training of the crew, the number of passengers allowed, etc. Such protocols are provided for the safety of the passengers. Generally, such protocols are violated with impunity. In this case, two helpers were required on the cruise. However, only one person was there. If there were more helpers, the accident could have been averted, or its consequences could have been minimized.
Do I heed the warning, take precautions, and follow standard operating procedures?