Govt asks UGC, AICTE to frame rules for students on excursion

The order came in the wake of the Beas river tragedy where 24 students were washed away

In the wake of Beas river tragedy where 24 students were washed away, Government has asked UGC and AICTE to frame guidelines on enforcing students' safety when they are on excursion or study trips.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani said in Lok Sabha today that the two regulators - University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education -- have been asked by the government to frame the guidelines.

Irani said upon hearing the news of the incident, she got in touch with the Himachal Pradesh government to ensure prompt rescue operations.

Irani said she had visited the site of the accident immediately and not only offered to bear the cost of the operations but also extended the assistance required in deploying Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, National Disaster Response Force, divers and rescue teams from Navy and Army.

She said the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also deputed their ministers and officers to the site of accident to monitor the rescue and search operation being carried out by various state and central agencies under the coordination of Himachal Pradesh government and the local administration.