The district administration in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district has banned all trekking activities above 3,000 metres, officials said on Tuesday.
Kangra deputy commissioner Hemraj Bairwa issued the orders. He said that prior permission from the office of the superintendent of police, Kangra, is mandatory for trekking on the Kareri, Triund and Adi Himani Chamunda routes.
Officials further said that as per the orders, if the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Shimla, issues a warning or an alert, all previously granted permissions for trekking on these routes will automatically stand cancelled. However, disaster management agencies, including the NDRF, SDRF, the Mountaineering Centre, McLeodganj, and police search and rescue teams, have been exempted from these instructions.
Bairwa said that such orders are issued from time to time with tourist safety in mind. He directed the district tourism officer to instruct all stakeholders involved in the tourism business in Kangra district to inform tourists staying in the area about the restrictions on trekking activities. He also asked them to apprise tourists of the punitive provisions in place for violations. The DC further directed all concerned departments to ensure strict compliance with the orders.