Theni forest fire: 10 musts for safe trekking

CHENNAI: CHENNAI: In the wake of the deaths of 10 trekkers after being caught in a forest fire in Theni district of Tamil Nadu, the focus is now on conducting safe trekking. There are some organisations which do conduct safe trekking. They practise certain aspects to ensure safety of trekkers. Here are 10 things they do.
1) Erode-based P Kandasamy, who has been conducting PKS Nature Camps and trekking in Mannavanur in Kodaikanal for the last 30 years, says permission from the forest department is the first and foremost aspect of organising a trekking expedidion. Once the permission is obtained, then interested people can be invited.

2) Ashok Candade, founder of Chennai-based outbound event organising firm Wildertrails, says before starting a trekking event, the organiser should know the place and the ability of the participants to trek the entire stretch.

3) The number of participants should always be very limited, Candade says.

4) Before the event, a plan has to be prepared about the route the team taking to trek inside the forest. Meticulous planning is needed for organising trekking programmes, Candade says.

5) Medical facilities and a standby vehicle are the two important aspects Kandasamy’s team will give priority to.

6) They also look for a primary health centre in case of an emergency.

7) There should be a guide who knows the topography of the forest. Kandasamy’s team has a guide, who is a retired forest foot soldier and who has lived in forest for more than five decades.

8) If the event is in summer, then one has to be doubly careful because of the forest fires.

9) One should not gulp water instantly. The trekker should drink water in very small quantities.

10) All these procedures have to be followed under the supervision of a fully qualified person.

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