The Newshour Debate: An avoidable tragedy?

Around 24 engineering students from Hyderabad were feared to have been washed away Sunday evening in River Beas near Thalot on Manali-Kiratpur Highway, 40 Km from Mandi. The sightseeing trip to Himachal Pradesh turned tragic for the tourists when the students, including some girls who were taking photographs at the bank of the river, were swept away by gushing waters of Beas as discharge of water suddenly increased following its release from the reservoir of 126 MW Larji hydropower project. According to information available with authorities in Shimla on Sunday night, 18 boys and six girls were feared to have drowned. The discharge of water increased suddenly and caught everyone unawares as the Project authorities released the water apparently without any warning. Enraged people blocked the national highway after the incident. 5 students have lost their lives, while 19 continue to be missing. Now, the residents in the area allege that there might be an illegal sand mining link to the tragedy. TIMES NOW investigation revealed that special tracks have been created for lifting of sand near the Pandoh dam, and the floodgates on the fateful day may have been opened to facilitate the flushing out of silt. On suggestions that there was no warning, the Himachal Chief Minister said, "I object to the point that there was no warning. Even today water is very fast. If the gate is opened,the water level may go up by few inches." Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who visited the accident spot, said, "I was told by locals that there is a primary and secondary school functioning very close to the accident site and locals are extremely concerned about the safety of the children. My only plea to the HP government is that the concern that has been expressed by locals should be addressed immediately".