40% bookings cancelled for trekking in Uttarkashi

UTTARKASHI: The recent avalanche tragedy at Mount Draupadi ka Danda-II -- that left 27 young mountaineers dead and two others missing -- has dealt a major blow to the adventure sports sector in Uttarkashi district.
A hub for trekking and mountaineering activities, the hill district where the tragedy unfolded, is witnessing a high number of bookings being cancelled, claim industry professionals. They add that fresh enquiries have also stopped coming in.
"The avalanche has developed a sense of insecurity among tourists, as the incident hit a group of trainees from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), which is a symbol of excellence in the field," said Bhagwat Semwal, owner of a trekking and mountaineering agency in Uttarkashi.
"Several tourist groups have cancelled their bookings as they were not feeling safe ever since the avalanche tragedy. Besides, we are also not getting any further bookings. We fear losing over 40% bookings in the post-monsoon season," he added.
Other tour operators also echoed similar sentiments and claimed the incident to be "a big blow" to the trekking and mountaineering industry of the district, already suffering due to the Covid pandemic, its aftermath and the recent ban on activities in trek routes connecting Himachal to Uttarkashi.
Jayendra Rana, president of Garhwal Himalaya Trekking and Mountaineering Association, Uttarkashi, said, "There is an atmosphere of fear and panic among people, particularly parents, who are scared to send their children to the mountains for adventure sports."
However, registered agencies say they are following safety guidelines and "keeping tourists safe which is top-most priority" for them. "Avalanches occur in specific regions and under specific conditions. Therefore, people should feel safe to go to the mountains, if they are with registered agencies and are following all rules of mountaineering," Rana said.