The southwest monsoon has intensified in a number of parts of Karnataka and the authorities call on tourists to avoid hills, rivers, waterfalls and other dangerous places in Sakleshpur of Hassan district.
Heavy rainfall over the past few days has caused landslides, flash floods, overflowing streams and slippery roads to the tourist places, which make travel to popular tourist places unsafe.
Sakleshpur is a beautiful green destination with clear green countryside, misty hills, coffee plantations and beautiful waterfalls and millions of tourists each monsoon season. But the rains transform the place into a picture-perfect place that people love and the rains also create dangerous places that lead to serious danger to the people who are there.
District officials have appealed to travelers to postpone non-essential trips until weather conditions improve. Trekking routes, hill viewpoints, forest trails and riverside areas are very dangerous, officials warn, especially as they continue to rain. Waterfalls are flowing rapidly and rivers and streams are flowing too fast.
The district administration is sending emergency response teams to the most vulnerable places to ensure public safety. Local police, revenue officials, and disaster management personnel are monitoring the areas that could get hit with landslides and flooding too.
So far, road connectivity in some parts of the Western Ghats has also been affected by heavy rains. Mudslides, falling trees and waterlogging have hampered movement on many interior roads to the worst of this extent on many roads.
Travelers should be aware of weather forecasts and road conditions in the region before traveling through it, the warning said.
As a result, the tourists should not ignore warnings or go across barricades near rivers, waterfalls and landslide-prone areas, the authorities have said. Adventure trips like trekking, swimming in rivers and taking photos with children on overflowing waterfalls should be avoided until conditions are safe.
Hotels, homestays and tourism operators are also asked to cooperate with the administration by informing guests on the current weather situation and advising them on the safety measures and to follow official advice. Emergency services are on standby for any incidents arising from heavy rains.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued rainfall over several coastal and interior regions of Karnataka. District administration in the region is closely monitoring the changing weather and is preparing to issue another alert if rainfall increases.
Residents in low-lying areas should also be on guard against flooding because heavy downpours may cause localized flooding, the farmers and plantation owners have been advised.
The monsoon season is often the most beautiful part of the natural beauty of places like Sakleshpur, but officials stress that tourists’ safety must be the top priority. Monsoon travel hazards for tourists are highlighted every year when swollen rivers and too close to waterfalls in heavy rains and incidents are reported.
Visitors are advised to postpone sightseeing until the weather is more stable. Residents who are in Sakleshpur should not do any outdoor activities and be very careful about weather conditions, district administration and weather control agencies have said.
In a situation where Karnataka has been experiencing a lot of monsoon activity in recent years, the authorities stress that safe tourism and safety precautions should be applied to ensure the safety of people and visitors during the rainy season.
