Beas Tragedy: Sand Mafia involved?

Almost 45 days of search, the authorities have recovered only 22 bodies and are still looking for 3 more missing bodies of the victims of Beas tragedy. The accident took place in Thalout area of Mandi district, due to sudden surge of river water released upstream from Larji hydroelectric project on June 8. Many keynotes have come out from this tragedy.

This incident is attributed to sand mafia - a culmination of sand miners and corrupt officials to loot freebies of nature. To deposit sand on the riverbed for easy mining, the water was released from dam. The water is often released at the hour of the day when unloading sand can be with ease. Sand mafia’s involvement is highly probable, as the government did not construct the link roads. Various big and small road inlets were created to reach the riverbank along the national highway in Mandi and Kullu districts.

To generate hydroelectricity water is stored. Only when there is a chance of flood huge amount of water is released especially during nights. A question here arises as to why so many cusecs of water have been released without any warning of flood. The lack of danger board signs and the alerts from engineers is another apparent reason. Swift response from the disaster recovery team could have helped bring more survivors home.

The government has to initiate action against corrupt officials who allowed digging link roads and the ones who released the water. In addition, educational institutions should involve students in trainings where in they are taught on how to handle crisis instead of getting panicked.