Key Takeaways
- The Disaster Management Act enables authorities to prohibit trekking in high‑risk areas.
- A ban is in place until September 15 to avoid monsoon‑related landslides.
- District Magistrate Dr Nipun Jindal directed police and tourism officials to enforce the restriction.
- Residents and tourists are urged to stay away from rivers, drains, and ravines during heavy rain.
Dharamshala: Trekking has been completely banned in Kangra district until September 15 during the monsoon season.
District Magistrate Dr Nipun Jindal issued the order under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
In this case, activities like trekking will remain closed in places up to 1500 metres in height in Kangra district.
The District Magistrate told UNI that the police administration and the concerned sub-divisional officers have been instructed to ensure compliance with the orders, and along with this, the District Tourism Development Officer has been asked to convey the information about these orders to all hotel operators so that tourists do not turn towards trekking sites at any level.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal said that there is a danger of landslides at higher places due to rain, and in this regard, trekkers have also put their lives at risk during the monsoon earlier.
Many times, the administration has also taken out people stuck at high places during trekking with great difficulty. He said that trekking has been banned to avoid any untoward incidents.
Dr Nipun Jindal said that people have been instructed not to go near rivers, drains, and potholes due to the rain. Due to the monsoon, there is a danger of sudden rises in water levels in rivers and ravines in Kangra district.
He said that instructions have also been given to all the sub-divisional officers that slums and shanties should be removed with immediate effect and that proper arrangements should be made for the rehabilitation of those people.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal said that instructions have been given to send the report of damage caused due to rain in the district immediately and take effective steps to provide immediate relief to the affected people so that the affected families do not have to face any kind of trouble.
He said that the revenue officers, especially Patwaris, have been asked to be available in the field to take stock of the damage and provide immediate relief.
