Andhra Pradesh engineering students swept away in river; Smriti Irani gheraoed in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, June 10: Union HRD minister

faced wrath of local people in

where young students from

met with deadly tragedy. Women of the village, where 25 engineering students were swept away in Beas river, gheraoed Irani on Monday, June 9 when she went to visit the spot.

The protesters demanded for more safety in the region. They claimed that both their and tourists lives are in danger beside the river banks as dam authorities allegedly were releasing water without warning.

One protester, in her request to Irani, said, "Often, water levels increase suddenly and we are forced to wait on the other side for a long time before we can come back home. Children too cross the water to go to the school at Thalout. Do something for our safety."

Do something for us: Protesters told Smriti Irani in Himachal Pradesh

However, the minister promised them to take prompt action while saying, "All are our children. Those who lost their lives were also our children. Ensuring their safety is our duty."

"State authorities have been asked to do proper enquiry into the matter and guilty should be punished," added the union minister.

A day after protest against Irani, Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday announced an immediate relief of Rs 1.50 lakh to the next of kin of the engineering college students who were washed away in the Beas River on Sunday.

Twenty-five students of a Hyderabad-based engineering college, who were taking photographs on the bank of Beas, were washed away when the discharge of water in the river suddenly increased due to release of water from the reservoir of 126 MW Larji hydropower project.

OneIndia News