Relief To Kin Of Beas Tragedy Victims, SC Orders Himachal Government To Pay 25 Lakh Compensation 

Hyderabad: Families of 24 engineering students of VNR Vignan Jyothi college, who were swept away in Beas river in Himachal Pradesh, heaved a sigh of relief on Monday when the Supreme Court directed the Himachal Pradesh to cough up Rs 25 lakh to each student towards compensation.

It may be recalled that on June 8, 2014, total of 24 engineering students from Hyderabad visited Himachal Pradesh as part of their excursion. They got into the Beas river in Mandi district to take pictures. Within minutes, all the students were swept away due to sudden release of water as the project gates were lifted. Later, the bodies were retrieved in one of the biggest rescue operations carried out in the country.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court had ordered the State Government to compensate the victims by paying Rs 25 lakh each to the kin. However, the Government approached the Supreme Court challenging the verdict. On Monday, the apex Court Division Bench found that the officials had violated rules while releasing dam water into Beas river and held the State Government responsible. Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh government has sought six months time to pay the compensation.