Kullu: Five tourists were swept away by a sudden surge in the Parvati river in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh after the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) dam at Barshaini allegedly released water without any prior warning.
One tourist has been confirmed dead, another is still missing and Kullu MLA Sunder Thakur has lodged a formal police complaint against the NHPC, holding it accountable for “criminal negligence” and “culpable homicide not amounting to murder”.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns over dam safety protocols in Himachal Pradesh’s tourist-heavy river valleys.
In a similar tragedy in June 2014, as many as 24 engineering students from Hyderabad were swept away by a sudden surge of water in the Beas river in Mandi district when water was suddenly released from the Larji Hydropower Project dam, allegedly without warning.
Dam release ‘without warning’ triggers tragedy
The NHPC allegedly dam released water into the river around noon on May 22 without issuing any public warning or activating sirens, a mandatory safety procedure. The resulting flashflood-like wave caught several tourists off guard while they were strolling near the riverbank in the scenic Manikaran Valley.
Prashant Chaurasia, a tourist from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was pulled from the water but had already died. Identification documents also listed an address in Varanasi. Another tourist remains missing, while three were rescued by locals who witnessed the sudden swell. The river’s turbulent and muddy conditions are hampering rescue operations led by the police, fire services and divers.
A chilling video filmed by a bystander shows one of the victims being dragged away by the powerful current, highlighting the terrifying speed and force of the surge.
MLA calls incident ‘criminal negligence’, lodges FIR
Kullu MLA Sunder Thakur has taken strong exception to the incident, filing a formal complaint with the police against NHPC officials.
In his complaint, Thakur accused the NHPC management of repeatedly endangering lives by releasing water from the dam without warning, calling the May 22 incident “a clear case of criminal negligence.”
“The company failed to issue any public alert, siren, or notice before releasing the water. This is not the first time such a lapse has occurred. Their negligence has once again cost lives,” said Thakur. He has demanded a criminal investigation and strict legal action against the power corporation under sections related to culpable homicide and public safety violations.
Munish Sood
