MANDI: A summer dip in a mountain stream turned fatal for a young IIT student near the campus of Indian Institute of Technology Mandi on Tuesday, once again exposing the dangerous lack of awareness among students about the deadly nature of Himalayan rivers and khads.
Vipin Kumar, a 21-year-old B.Tech Data Science student of the institute and a resident of Loharu in Bhiwani district of Haryana, drowned after he went for a swim in the Rhyagri Khad, located nearly one kilometre from the IIT campus. The khad later merges into the Uhl river.
According to sources, the student had gone to the icy waters to escape the biting heat but failed to assess the depth and force of a whirlpool where he entered the stream for a swim.
He was swept underwater and drowned in the strong current.
Locals nearby spotted the student in distress, pulled him out from the water and rushed him to the Zonal Hospital Mandi. However, doctors declared him brought dead.
Police said the body has been sent for post-mortem examination. The student was residing in the hostel of the institute.
The tragic incident has sparked concern among students and residents over the absence of proper river safety awareness for newcomers arriving from the plains, many of whom are unfamiliar with the unpredictable and dangerous nature of Himalayan streams.
Students allege that fresh entrants are rarely educated about the hazards posed by the Beas river, Uhl river and several mountain khads flowing near the sprawling IIT campus.
During summers, many students are drawn towards the crystal-clear cold waters without realizing that beneath the calm surface lie slippery rocks, sudden drops, whirlpools and deadly undercurrents.
Locals say these mountain streams may appear shallow and harmless, but even experienced swimmers can get trapped within seconds.
Following the tragedy, an official of the IIT campus reportedly told locals that the institute would investigate the incident and ensure that such mishaps are not repeated in future.
The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for warning signboards near vulnerable riverbanks, restricted access to dangerous spots and mandatory awareness sessions for new students during hostel induction programmes.
The death of the young student now stands as a grim reminder that Himalayan rivers and khads are not recreational pools but powerful natural water bodies that demand extreme caution.
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