NHRC issues notice to Himachal govt for report over Manali tragedy

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued notice to the Himachal Pradesh government over the drowning of 24 students in the Beas river.

“The National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the chief secretary, Government of Himachal Pradesh and to the deputy commissioner, Mandi, calling for a report in the matter within two weeks,” a statement said in New Delhi.

A wall of water washed away 24 engineering students and a tour operator on Sunday evening after water was released into the river without a warning from a nearby hydropower project.

Over 60 students and faculty members of the VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology in Hyderabad were on an excursion to Manali.

“The state government admitted that the authorities did not follow the right protocol on use of hooters and other warning signals on the release of the water from the Hydel Project,” it said.

IANS