2 tourists from Jharkhand drown in Himachal as venturing near swirling Lahaul river proves fatal

In a tragic incident, two young tourists from Jharkhand drowned in the Chandra river near Sissu in Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.

While rescue teams have recovered one body after hours of search operations, the second victim remains missing as frantic efforts continue along the treacherous riverbanks.

Had checked into Manali hotel

An eyewitness recounted that the duo, identified as Amar Kumar (19) and his friend Samarth (20), had checked into a Manali hotel on Saturday night.
They had hired a local cab to visit Sissu on Sunday. The tragedy struck when they ventured onto a dilapidated iron bridge near the helipad, where powerful river currents flow beneath.

“One youth slipped on the wet bridge,” the eyewitness told the police. “The other jumped in to save him, but both got swept away instantly by the violent currents.”
The strong water flow immediately separated them, with one disappearing underwater while the other was carried downstream.

Ongoing Search Operations

District police teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving an alert. After hours of combing the river, they recovered Amar Kumar’s body about 100 metres downstream, identified through an ATM card found in his pocket. His family in Jharkhand has been notified.

As of Monday evening, multiple teams, including local police, disaster response personnel and volunteers, continue searching for Samarth.
The operation has been hampered by the river’s strong currents and the remote, mountainous terrain.
The incident has brought to focus the dangers at unmaintained tourist spots in ecologically sensitive Himalayan regions.

The Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police cautioned: “Tourists must adhere to safety warnings and avoid risky behaviour near water bodies. We are increasing patrols at vulnerable spots.”

Sunil Chadha