The Home Ministry has sought a report from the state on the incident in which 25 students, who were taking photographs on the bank of Beas, were washed away last evening when the discharge of water in the river suddenly increased due to release of water from the reservoir of 126 MW Larji hydropower project.
Five bodies including that of three boys and two girls have been recovered, SSB officials at Control Room at Mandi said.
Officials fear that the chances of survival of the missing students is slim as the river current is strong and presence of silt and waste.
"The high discharge of water and shortage of boats is causing some problem but we have list of missing persons and hope to recover the bodies. Our jawans are moving in boats and strict vigil is being maintained along the banks of Beas and NDRF teams and divers from BBMB have also reached the spot," the officials said.
The Chief Minister has also ordered suspension of the Resident Engineer and a case has been registered against the staff for negligence and not forewarning the people before releasing water from the dam.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, the Chief Minister said, "Students had come with teachers. I think the teachers should have taken precaution that the students did not go to the river bed. But anyway I do not want to blame anybody".