Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 17

An Armyman has been missing since April 7 after he accidentally slipped and fell into the Satluj river, while he was on operational patrolling duty near the Line of Actual Control in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

He has been identified as Lance Havildar Prakash Ralla of Tripeak Brigade.

According to an official statement, search operations were immediately launched, initially by the patrol party and later by employing around 200 people of the unit.

The operations are being undertaken relentlessly in spite of the challenges of increasing water levels, high salt content, water current and presence of large boulders in the river.

Quadcopters, reconnaissance and observation helicopters, as well as specially trained divers from the Special Forces and engineer task forces, have also been pressed into service.

Coordination has been carried out with Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Border Roads Organisation and Karcham Dam authorities for requisite assistance.

An FIR for the missing individual has been lodged with the local police.