A Nepali student at New Delhi-based Jamia Millia Islamia University has been missing after falling into the Ganga River in Rishikesh, Uttaranchal State, India.

Milan Poudel, who was pursuing his post-graduate studies at the University’s Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict, had gone to Rishikesh during the festival of Holi with four of his friends.

According to a report published by The Times of India, Poudel slipped and fell into the Ganga river at Tapoban on Tuesday. His friends jumped into the river to save him and also got trapped in the waves.

According to the report, a German national who saw the incident jumped into the river and was able to rescue two of Poudel’s friends— Bhumika and Sahil.

But one of Poudel’s friend, Tushar Kaushik of Jammu and Kashmir, who had jumped into the river to save him, is also missing.

The police have launched a search and rescue operation to find Poudel and Kaushik following the incident.

Poudel, 25, had interned for the Post in 2016 as a photo and video journalist. He had completed his undergraduate degree from Kathmandu University and was in Delhi for the past two years pursuing his Master’s degree.

Poudel, who was trying to carve a niche for himself as a documentary filmmaker, was in the Indian capital when the protests broke out over a new citizenship law. He was actively involved in creating visual stories covering the clashes at various riot-torn areas.

As a result, he was put on a watch list by pro-citizenship supporters and also had an encounter with them. Poudel’s classmate, Sudeep Dalvi, in a Facebook post on February 29, had mentioned an altercation Poudel had with the pro-citizenship rioters at North East Delhi during the protests.

Following Tuesday’s incident, Poudel’s father Mohan Poudel and brother have reached Rishikesh to assist in the search.