Shimla, Apr 17 (IANS): A massive search and rescue operation has been launched by the Indian Army for Lance Havildar Prakash Ralla of Tripeak Brigade who had fallen into the Sutlej river while negotiating a crossing near the Line of Actual Control in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, a statement said on Friday.

He was part of a patrolling party. Search operations were immediately launched, initially by the patrol party and later by employing around 200 people of the unit, an official statement said.

The search operations are continuing in spite of increasing water level, high silt content, strong current and the presence of large boulders in the river.

Quadcopters, reconnaissance and observation helicopters as also specially trained divers from the Special Forces and Engineer Task Forces are taking part in the operations.

The efforts are being coordinated with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Roads Organisation and Karcham Dam authorities, the statement added.