In Himachal Pradesh, bodies of four of the 24 students who drowned in the river Beas at Mandi last evening, have recovered by the rescue teams.

They were part of the group of students from Hyderabad based VNR Vigyan Jyoti Institute of Engineering and Technology who became victim to the tragedy which has shocked everyone. A tour operator who was with them, had also drowned, taking the tally to 25.

Two teams of NDRF have reached the spot and are pressed into search operations. A control room with Phone Number: 01905-223374 has been set up at Mandi for any information.

The students who drowned include 18 boys and six girls who were on an excursion trip alongwith other college mates.

ADM Mandi, Pankaj Rai told AIR that the water level rose after sudden discharge from the Larji Hydel Power project resulting into drowning of students.

Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh visited the spot to take stock of the situation.

He has suspended one Resident Engineer of the hydel project and marked a divisional commissioner level inquiry into the whole incident. He has assured all possible help including transportation of bodies to their native place.

Minister of Human Resources Development, Smriti Irani has assured the Himachal Pradesh government of all assistance and support from the Centre in relief and rescue operations.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the incident is unfortunate and this kind of incidents should not be repeated.

He said, our country have disaster management schemes and the government will take all the steps to stop this kind of accidents.