Monsoon season: Water activities and trekking banned in Dakshina Kannada district

Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district administration has banned tourists from engaging in various water and trekking activities across the district during the Monsoon season.

District Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan M.P. issued stringent orders on July 6 to this effect.

According to the order, all water-related activities including swimming, entering water bodies, and undertaking any adventure activities in waterfalls, streams, rivers, seas, and reservoirs have been banned. The decision has been taken under the powers conferred by Section 34(C) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Sections 152 and 163 of the Indian Civil Defense Code, 2023.

The order is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

Trekking Ban During Monsoon Season

In a separate notification, the district administration also banned trekking and adventure activities on mountain peaks in the district during the 2024-2025 monsoon season.

The ban is in response to the expected widespread rains and the potential dangers they pose, such as landslides, mudslides, lightning strikes, and falling trees, the notification said.

According to the notification, as a precautionary measure, the following instructions are issued to the public/tourists:

• Due to the possibility of accidents like landslides, mudslides, lightning strikes, and falling trees due to heavy rains, trekking of mountains/peaks in the district is completely banned.
• Trekking, adventure activities conducted by homestays, resorts, and the Forest Department during the monsoon season are prohibited until the monsoon season ends.

Violations of these orders will also attract penalties under Section 51(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and related rules.

Appeal for Public Cooperation

The district administration urged the public and tourists to adhere strictly to these orders to ensure their safety and prevent any untoward incidents.