ITBP confirms recovery of one more body from River Beas in Mandi

As the rescue operations in Mandi continue, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) commandant Laxman Yadav confirmed here on Wednesday that rafters have recovered a sixth body from the River Beas.

The team had recovered five bodies from the river yesterday and rescue operations are on in full swing.

Telangana Home Minister Naini Narsimha Reddy said, "It was decided in the review meeting yesterday, that the rescuers will go to the Larji Dam (in Mandi) to see if anyone is stuck there or not. So, according to that, the operation has started from here to see if anyone is in deep waters here. We are also trying to increase the strength (of rescuers) according to what was decided in the meeting."

"I called up MP Jitender Reddy and deputy leader Vinod, they both will be meeting Rajnath Singh and will try to involve the military in this with the latest equipments. The disaster management team has also left for the location with their cameras to search for people stuck in the water."

ITBP Deputy Commandant Kamal said, "We are trying to search every corner, but the main problem we are facing is that the water is not clear, it has silt due to which there is no proper visibility, but we have ankles so that if we feel any body we can take it out and we hope to trace something by the evening."

At least 25 people drowned in flash floods in the River Beas in Mandi on Sunday. The water of the dam was allegedly released without prior warning.