Temporary ban on trekking to Meenmutty

Thiruvananthapuram: Following the drowning death of a 25-year-old physiotherapist at Meenmutty waterfalls in Neyyar forest range, the forest department authorities have temporarily stopped the Meenmutty trekking package. The department will also install more warning boards at vulnerable spots.
Neyyar forest range officer J Suresh said that all bookings for the next two weeks have been cancelled. No new bookings are being allowed either. The move will result in huge monetary loss as the department charges Rs 965 per head for one-day trek and Rs 1,100 per head for trek with one-night camping in the jungle.
“We are not much bothered about the financial loss as the safety of trekkers is more important,” said the forest range officer. During the two-week break when trekking won’t be allowed, the officials will inspect the route, identify dangerous spots and install new warning signs. It has also been decided to increase the number of guides provided to each trekking group based on the strength of the group.
“Henceforth, we will provide one guide for each five persons in a group,” Suresh said. On Saturday, there were nine members in the group that went to Meenmutty, but, they only had one guide.
The range officer added that entering the waterfall was not part of the trekking package offered by the department. If there were more guides to manage the group, perhaps the tragedy could have been averted, he said.
Anandhu M S, a physiotherapist hailing from Pirappancode, had drowned in the Meenmutty waterfalls on Saturday afternoon. A week ago, an NRI from the United Kingdom had drowned in the Kallar River on the foot of Ponmudi hills.
Divisional forest officer K I Pradeep Kumar said that as the number of domestic tourists to waterfalls inside forest area is expected to increase in the wake of ensuing summer season, all tourist guides have been directed to intensify their vigil.
Rural SP B Ashok said that police personnel in such tourist destinations have been told to check the tourists thoroughly to prevent them from taking liquor to the water bodies as consumption of liquor was a reason for most drowning cases reported in the forests.