More than 60 students and faculty members of the V.N.R. Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology in Hyderabad were on an excursion to Manali.
Some of them were getting themselves photographed on the bank of the river Sunday evening when a wall of water washed them away
"The river level suddenly increased due to release of water from the Larji hydropower project dam, located near the accident spot, without warning," witnesses said.
The government has ordered and inquiry into the incident and action would be taken against those found negligent in the incident.
Telangana Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy was camping in Mandi for the third day along with parents and families of the missing students.
The accident spot is located some 200 km from Shimla and on the border of Kullu and Mandi districts.
