The deceased has been identified as Chuni Lal, son of Het Ram of Nasogi village near Manali. Deputy Commissioner R.D. Dhiman expressed grief over the tragedy and has ordered a magisterial probe into the mishap. District police chief Zahoor Zaidi told ENS that a case of endangering the life and causing death has been registered under sections 336 and 304 of the Indian Penal Code.

It is learnt that the deceased was undertaking a course in basic river rafting co-sponsored by the HP Department of Tourism with a private rafting agency. According to eye witnesses, at about 12.30 o,clock, the rafting guide lost control of the raft while negotiating a rapid `Hole' near Mohal village which resulting in the mishap. The deceased was brought dead to the local district hospital but the postmortem had not been conducted till the filing of this report, as the hospital authorities were waiting for the police, who had gone for a on the spot verification.

The Deputy Commissioner has announced an immediate belief of Rs 20,000 to the next of kin of the deceased. Former horticulture minister Thakur Kunj Lal, local MLA Chander Sen Thakur and vice chairman of HPMC expressed deep shock over the tragedy and have sent their heart felt sympathies to the family members of the deceased.