YSR Congress calls for improved rescue teams searching for survivors in Mandi

YSR Congress MP Y.V. Subba Reddy on Tuesday said that the Himachal Pradesh Government should improve the rescue teams searching for the 24 students who were washed away by a flash flood on the Beas River in Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.

"It was a tragic incident which happened two days ago. Yesterday we had a word with chief secretary of Himachal Pradesh and asked him to involve more rescue teams to trace out the students who were washed away," said Subba Reddy.

"They should improve their rescue teams as the parents of the students are confused whether their children are dead or alive. They want to know if their children have survived. Therefore the state government should come forward and improve these teams," he added.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister, G S Bali, revealed that one more body has been recovered from the river Beas.

He said that the boy has been identified as Devesh Bose - a native of Hyderabad - and that the body has been recognized by his father.

The total body count from the incident has come up to five now; four bodies were found yesterday.

Telugu Desam Party MP, Malla Reddy, said that the body was found on a rock at about 9:30 pm, and was about 0.5 km from the point of incident.

He also said that the body is being sent to hospital for post mortem and that the Defence people were arranging for a flight to lift the body.

About 550 people, including 100 from army, have been engaged for the rescue operation. Surviving students have been sent back to their places.