A 21-year-old youth from Punjab drowned while bathing in a stream at Janala in Kasol, Manikaran valley, Kullu district on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Anshtej, a resident of Kapurthala, Punjab.
Incident details
According to officials, Anshtej and his friends entered the stream to bathe but he was swept away by the current. The Manikaran police retrieved the body and, after a postmortem examination, handed it over to the bereaved family members.
Kullu Additional SP Sanjeev Chauhan confirmed that a case has been registered and the body was returned to the family. He appealed to tourists to stay away from rivers, streams, and areas with strong water currents, especially during the rainy season.
Police warning
Chauhan stated, “During the monsoon season, rivers and streams are often swollen and water currents are extremely dangerous. A fatal mishap can occur at any time.” Despite regular warnings and advisories from the administration and police, some tourists continue to ignore safety guidelines and approach the Beas and its tributaries for photographs and videos.
Continuous rainfall has significantly increased the water level of the Beas River, heightening risks.
Action against violators
Manali DSP KD Sharma reported that nine people were fined on Thursday under the HP Police Act for venturing too close to the Beas. He added that similar strict action would be taken against those found flouting safety rules.
