DEHRADUN: Following the death of two tourists, bathing has been temporarily banned at Tiger Falls, a popular tourist destination in Chakrata, located 70 kilometers from the state capital Dehradun. The two tourists were bathing at the Falls on Monday evening when a tree fell on them, crushing the two to death.
This marks the first such fatal accident at Tiger Falls where two lives have been lost. The victims have been identified as Alka Anand (55) from Shahdara, Delhi, and Geetaram Joshi (38) from the nearby Selakui area.
"This temporary measure has been implemented to ensure public safety and prevent any further unfortunate incidents," authorities stated, confirming the decision taken in response to the fatal accident.
Chakrata Police Station House Officer Chandrashekhar Nautiyal told this daily, "Some branches of the fallen tree are still stuck and need to be removed. The tree's roots might have weakened due to recent storms and strong winds in the area, causing it to collapse."
SHO Nautiyal further stated, "An inspection will be conducted to check all other potentially hazardous trees in the vicinity of the accident spot, and assistance from the Forest Department will also be sought if necessary."
While there are no restrictions on visiting the Tiger Falls area, tourists have been prohibited from bathing in the waterfall for their safety.
"It might take two to three days for normalcy to be restored," Nautiyal added.
Nautiyal noted, "Approximately 80 school children had visited the waterfall just minutes before the accident, but luckily they had already left the area. Only 25-30 people were present at the time of the incident."
With rising summer temperatures and school holidays, Tiger Falls attracts approximately 1,000 to 1,500 tourists daily. An official from the Revenue Department stated, "Continuous efforts are being made to ensure the safety of visitors and restore normalcy in the area."