Adventure activities banned in Kullu

Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, JULY 15

In view of the rainy season, adventure activities involving rivers and aero sports will be prohibited from July 15 to September 15.

The Kullu administration has already banned all water activities and removed camps near river banks, nullahs and landslide-prone areas after a cloudburst flooded Gohar Nullah, causing loss of life and property at Choj village in the Parbati valley on July 6.

Kullu District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) Sunayna Sharma said adventure activities had been banned for two months to ensure safety of revellers. She said the level in water bodies could rise abruptly during the rainy season. Besides, winds were also not favourable to conduct aero sports activities.

She said rafting, kayaking, river crossing, zip lining, rappelling, paragliding, hot air ballooning had all been banned.

However, trekking, rock climbing, zorbing balls, rolling balls, bungee jumping and mountain biking were allowed.

Only approved operators would be allowed to carry out the permitted adventure activities. The departments concerned would maintain a strict vigil and legal action would be taken against the violators.

Generally, rafting, paragliding and miscellaneous adventure activities are banned for two months from July 15 every year under the River Rafting Rules 2005, the Aero Sports Rules 2004 and the Miscellaneous Adventure Activities Rules 2017. The rivers and streams are in spate during the rains. At the same time, there is fog and the winds are unpredictable.

All these factors make the adventure activities unsafe, which can even be life-threatening.

There are around 800 rafts at Raison, Babeli, Bashing, Pirdi, Bhuntar and Sarabai. Nearly 300 paragliders operate at Taleti, Raison, Falayn, Marhi and Solang Nullah. Many tourists visit these sites to enjoy adventure activities. These activities provide employment to thousands of people of the valley.