MYSURU: Cauvery and Kapila rivers, studded with well-known falls and backwaters, have become watery grave for 192 people in the last five years. Althogh the number of deaths have come down significantly, occasional mishaps do take place despite preventive measures by the administration.
Muthathi, Barachukki, Gaganachukki and Balamuri falls, Sangam in Srirangapatna and KRS backwaters are some of the favourite picnic destinations for weekend travellers, particularly IT professionals. But when signages put up by the tourism and police departments are ignored, mishaps happen.
Swimming and taking selfies in irrigation canals can be dangerous.
The spate of deaths has made the administration take measures to check tragedies. The drowning of degree students in Balamuri and Gaganachukki falls recently forced the police to position additional men near the water bodies.
The district administration has banned swimming in the Cauvery at Muthatti. It has put up sign boards warning people against swimming and marked spots where people drowned in the river. Drunken people are not allowed to venture into the river. Visitors have to go through breath analyzer tests.
After the Algur police stepped up patrolling along the Cauvery river at Muttathi, drowning cases have come down in the last couple of years.
Gaganachukki and Barachukki falls falling in Mandya and Chamrajunagar districts are fenced police personnel are also deployed.
The Mandya Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nagabushan had also banned partying at picnic spots of the Cauvery including KRS backwaters during holidays and festivals.
The police and tourism department that operates boating in KRS and the police who keep vigil on tourists provide life jackets, boats rubber tubes, ropes and other rescue materials.
As the tourist flow is high at the picnic spot, the police find it difficult to manage the crowd.