Viral Reels of Dudhsagar Falls entice trekkers to break rules; local guides suffer from tourist ban

Goa: The careless behaviour of some youth on social media, particularly on Reels, has led to copycats performing dangerous and potentially illegal actions.

This has come to light after a video of trekkers at Dudhsagar Falls on the Goa-Karnataka border went viral. In the video, the trekkers were seen doing sit-ups in the presence of the Goa Railway Police, when the latter stopped a train by pulling the chain to trek to Dudhsagar Falls.

Monsoon danger

During the monsoon season, the waterfall cascades through lush greenery, creating a picturesque scene that attracts countless tourists. Tourists from Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Hubballi-Dharwad and Bagalkot, Pune and other districts of Maharashtra visit the scenic spot.

However, a week ago, the Goa government banned tourists from visiting the waterfalls in the state after two persons drowned at the Mainapi waterfall in Sanguem taluka. The Goa police, Forest Department and the Railways issued orders banning trekking in the monsoon season, in view of the heavy rainfall and landslides.

However, on July 9, a video was posted by some youth from Karnataka, who claimed in the video that Dudhsagar waterfall is open to the public. The video showed many enjoying the view of the waterfall.

At the cost of safety

This video dangerously encouraged many to travel to the tourist spot. Two days ago, thousands of trekkers travelling in trains (the Nizamuddin – Vasco da Gama Goa Express and the Yesvantpur – Vasco da Gama Express) pulled the chain and got down at the Collem station in South Goa, which is not a stop for any trains. The tourist would then take an 11-kilometre walk along the South Western Railway line from the Collem station to Dudhsagar waterfall.

However, the Goa Police, who were informed about the incident, stopped and punished them. While a few were made to do sit-ups, some were imposed fines.

“The trekking season usually starts in June and ends in October. However, due to heavy rain this year, the forest department did not grant permission for the trek. On the same day, there were landslides near the tunnel. We often see some groups getting down at the station, but for the first time, we saw thousands of them stopping at the falls,” said Sameer, a guide for Dudhsagar waterfall speaking to NewsMeter.

Need for restrictions

In response to the incident, the South Western Railway posted a tweet urging people not to walk along the tracks. “We urge you to savour the beauty of Dudhsagar Falls from within your coach. Walking on/along tracks not only endangers your own safety but is also an offence under Sections 147, 159 of the Railway Act. It can also endanger the safety of the trains,” it tweeted.

The Goa government has temporarily restricted access to the falls, keeping in mind the safety of tourists during the monsoon season. Currently, the road through the forest has been closed due to its slippery pathway and no one is allowed to walk along the railway track due to landslides.

The Dudhsagar railway stop is not a station where passengers can expect a platform. The Railways had banned people from boarding/deboarding passengers at the Dudhsagar station. One has to reach the falls with the help of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary jeep facility near a Goan village called Molem, or trek from the forest area in Kulem to the waterfall.

Restrictions affecting guides

With at least 100 families living in Kulem village, every family has at least one member who is a forest guide for Dudhsagar Falls. Others run small food businesses or transport services. The guides and their families are facing a financial crisis since June due to the lack of tourists.

According to the guides in Kulem village, there are many families who are solely dependent on this work. Their only other option is to travel all the way to the city for another job. The tourist guides charge approximately Rs 700 per person, including a forest entry ticket, and Rs 800 per person for a jeep safari.

“Due to heavy rains and deaths at other falls, permissions are not given for trekking. Dudhsagar Falls is not a spot where people can swim in the waters. We have been requesting the authorities to allow us to start trekking from the forest area,” said Sameer.