Mandi tragedy: 50 additional divers called in, over 500 people involved in rescue work (Update:- Mandi)

The rescue operation to find the 24 college students and a tour operator, who were swept away by a wall of water on the River Beas, has been expanded to include 50 more divers in the search.

"Around 24 divers from NDRF are searching for the bodies and more than 500 people are overall involved in the rescue operation. We are bringing in 50 more divers from Kolkata, Guwahati and Patna," said National Disaster Management Authority vice chairman Shashidhar Reddy.

There is a strong possibility that the bodies might be stuck between rocks that is hampering the rescue operations.

Reddy also informed that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) will be used for the rescue operations, as it was used during the Uttarakhand tragedy.

He further asserted that all agencies involved in the rescue operation are working in coordination.

Meanwhile, the seventh body, which was recovered earlier today, has been identified as a male, and a post mortem on it will be conducted soon.

According to rescuers, the body was found struck between two boulders. Muddy waters, silt and bad weather are hampering recovery efforts.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has served a notice on the Himachal Pradesh Government, and has sought a report on the mishap from it.