Shimla: About two dozen students said to be from an engineering college from South India are feared to have been trapped by sudden rise in Beas River waters downstream of Larji Project at Talot Village on the border of Kullu and Mandi districts.
Additional district magistrate of Mandi, Pankaj Rai, who was rushing to the site, over phone let Hill Post know that, “a police information report had alerted the district administration about some students having been trapped because of sudden rise in the Beas River waters.”
As I’m on my way, the details will only emerge after I reach the site, said Pankaj Rai.
Independent sources claimed that the sudden rise in river waters occurred because of the hydropower plant authorities suddenly releasing water downstream from the dam that has caught the students by surprise.
Some students are even feared to have been washed away by the strong currents.
With nightfall in the region, rescue operations were being hindered as white water rafters in the valley were reluctant to take to the waters in such conditions.
News Update 9.00 PM
The students are said to belong to VNR Vignan Jyothi Engineering College, Hyderabad and as many as 24 of the batch of 38 are reported missing.
The students, who were on summer vacation were said to clicking photographs at the edge of the river bank near Talot Village, when without any warnings the waters started to rise.
Of those missing 18 are boy and 6 girl students, according to preliminary information available.
Agitated villagers had blocked the road in protest against the dam authorities for releasing water without any forewarning.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
Be precise with the details.They are from VNR Vignan Jyothi Engineering College,Hyderadad.Not BNR.
Krishna,
Thanks for pointing out the mistake
The error was unintentional as information was hard to get by when the tragedy had just occurred.
We have corrected our mistake to put the correct details.
Very sad and heartrending. I didn’t understand when the students were trying to go on the top of the rock why didn’t the faculty members try to stop them. Time never say and comes. We can’t blame the authorities only teachers are also responsible for their negligence.
Firstly, bus should not stop at every place because it may be not only water problem but snakes and other things may give problems to students. Because no body knows about such places.
I pray god for peace of all the 24 students.