Trekkers & agencies throw caution to the wind as trend & business booms

Nagpur: As 22-year-old city girl Yamini Temurnikar battles for life at a hospital in Dehradun, questions are being raised about the safety issues around trekking expeditions which are booming from Manali to Uttarkashi and other regions.
Yamini was on a trek in Uttarkashi and got hit on the head by a boulder in the Gangotri (Tapovan region). Experts say that the 200 metre region on the way to Gaumukh is also called the landslide region and is known for loose rocks and boulders which can tumble even with the impact of noise or movement of the Bharal mountain antelope.
The number of trekkers has a seen a phenomenal rise over the past couple of years. “Adventure sports are now looked up as lifestyle activities and it is fashionable to undertake them,” says Amol Khante, founder of CAC All Rounder, who has been taking beginners on treks to Manali for over a decade.
Once considered to be an activity only for the fit and knowledgeable, now social media pictures and peer pressures are reasons egging many to undertake treks. The constantly rising numbers of trekkers has reached saturation point. “During season time, more than 20,000 trekkers can be seen in Manali and Uttarkashi,” says Khante.
Commenting on the huge rush, Avinash Deoskar, who trains youth for mountaineering says, “Ban the cameras at these places and the rush will reduce.”
Citing reports, Deoskar adds, “Most of the causalities or accidents happen due to underprepared, unskilled or inexperienced trekkers or organizers. These services require experienced skilled staff which comes at a cost. But many, for want of resources, settle for agencies which lack competence, experience and knowledge.”
“With so many agencies operating, money is the name of the game and companies who want to operate in a responsible manner are beaten by those who charge less,” says Manoj Rawat, secretary of Uttarkashi Mountaineering and Trekking Association.
“My company may undertake all the precautions like medical emergencies and trained instructors but this will come for a charge. The other operator will offer a lower price and no facilities and grab the business. So what am I supposed to do? Besides the trekkers are impatient to undertake the trek at the lowest cost and many times refuse services of a qualified instructor. They have limited time and want to finish it once they are here,” adds Rawat.
Brushing off the incident of Yamini as just an accident that can happen anywhere, Rawat says, “In adventure sports people are aware of the risks involved and we also take a declaration from them which absolves us of any responsibility.”
Unaware of these ground realities, many prospective trekkers book treks by getting information from social media and trekking portals who outsource these bookings to local agencies competing at cut throat rates.
Terming portals as the biggest polluters, Capt Swadesh Kumar, president of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India, says, “Trekking is not a supermarket product to be bought online.”
Kumar’s association has brought a safety guidance book with 31 verticals each containing 30 guidelines which he says if followed properly can prevent untoward incidents. “It is time government intervened and made licenses mandatory for adventure tour operators now. Trekkers too should select only those agencies which are recognized by central or state government and have credibility and safety record,” he adds.
A WORD OF CAUTION
* Do not give in to peer pressure to undertake this activity
* Select a trek route which fits your physical and mental strength
* Select an agency which has a good safety record and trained instructors. It should also be registered with the government
* Bargain for price but compare between what is being offered by those charging more
* Trekking portals outsource the service without providing information about who will be in charge. Avoid booking through them