Thanks to the bad publicity for accidental deaths which the picturesque Kuntala waterfall in Adilabad district received last month, the flow of visitors has dried up. The number of visitors to this picnic spot in the lap of nature used to be around 2,500 on weekends but has now plummeted to below 500 following the scare that got spread after the drowning of two youths in early July.
The majestic waterfall, the largest in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, is located about 12 km away in the forest from Neredigonda mandal headquarter on the NH 44. The waterfall with a drop of 40 mtrs and a width of 100 mtr comes alive during the monsoon and attracts nature lovers from surrounding districts and Hyderabad.
Nearly 70 deaths due to drowning have been recorded at this place since the year 2000 which makes the place quite unsafe. To put matters in proper perspective, only those who ventured into the dangerous spots in the waterfall have died, except for the 7 from Mandamarri who were washed away in flash floods in 2002.
The State Government has from time to time initiated developmental activity to make Kuntala a tourist spot but there was hardly any plan to make it safe for visitors. At present the place is part of Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) and has had a few safety measures put in place.
A fencing running to about 300 mtr along the stream at the foot of the waterfall has been erected to prevent visitors entering water. A team of five swimmers are now at hand though they seem to redundant as visitors are not allowed to enter the swirling waters.
Five special party policemen and 4 civil constables are present at the spot to dissuade the latter from getting dangerously close to the fall. The Forest Department makes its presence felt having posted 5 watchers from its base camp led by a Forest Beat Officer.
Despite the preventive measures, visitors are being allowed to watch the wonderful scene of water running down the fall from a safe distance. “They can click photos from the spot till where they are allowed so they do not miss much,” pined FBO Raju.
The KTR management however, needs a little more to do to facilitate visitors at the spot. The rocks at the fencing do not make for an even ground for visitors to stand comfortably and view the waterfall.
If some soil surrounding the rocks along the fencing is removed or organised properly, the rocks will make an excellent spot both for standing and sitting while watching the water cascade down. This way visitors can spend a little extra time at the scenic spot.
