KULLU:  In a tragic incident,  the two local teenagers from Goshal Barahar villages were swept away  in the surging waters  of the Solang khad in the uphill of Manali tourist town  after the make-shift foot bridge they were crossing the khad collapsed.  

The ill-fated youth have been identified as Krishan 13, son of Hira Lal Rahul, 17, son of Hari Ram, Barahar Manali, SDM Manali Surender Thakur told media. 

Rescue operation was on to retrieve the ill-fated youth who were feared to be swept away in the flooded Beas river as the khad is its tributary, which has been in spate due to the heavy rains in the region.    

In a statement Congress President and Mandi Lok Sabha MP Pratibha Singh has expressed her deep grief over the tragic accident.

Expressing her condolences to the bereaved family, Pratibha Singh has blamed the BJP government and administration for the tragic accident.

She claimed that the former Chief Minister Late Virbhadra Singh had laid the foundation stone of the pucka bridge for the movement of people for Solang village during his last tenure in 2016.

But  it is a matter of sadness that due to the neglect of the government and the local administration, the work on the  bridge  was not completed even after six years.  

She has asked the government to provide all possible help to the affected family while demanding strict action against the officials responsible for the accident.

She has demanded the early construction of a bridge over the broken bridge facilitating safe movement of the people of Solang village.