Police recover body from Chandra river

A body was recovered from the Chandra river in Lahaul and Spiti district on Sunday, while the search operation continues for another victim. The deceased was identified as Amar Kumar, 19, from Jharkhand.

According to the police, a major rescue operation was launched after receiving an urgent call about two individuals seen floating in the river near Sissu. Upon receiving the information, the district police swiftly formed a rescue team and rushed to the location.

The police said eyewitnesses provided crucial details during the search. Mohammad Obis from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, informed authorities the two men had checked into a hotel in Manali the previous night. He said, the following day, they travelled together to Sissu in a local vehicle arranged by an agent. At Sissu, they climbed onto an old, broken iron bridge over the Chandra River. As the water surged over the bridge, one man slipped and in an attempt to rescue him, both fell into the river.

While one man disappeared under the water, the other was carried downstream. Despite immediate efforts to search the area, the body was later found 100m downstream.

The police said the deceased was identified as Amar Kumar, adding that the search for his companion, Samarth, is ongoing.

Police officials said the body was sent to a hospital in Keylong, where the individual was declared dead. They said the families of both victims have been informed, adding that the rescue operation would resume on Monday.