Faulty design of fences at Doddabetta poses risk to tourists

The fences have been designed in such a way that they leave a lot of room for accidents

Tourists crossing the fence at Doddabetta peak in Udhagamandalam.

Tourists and visitors to Doddabetta Peak, especially young children are at risk of serious injury due to the faulty design of safety fencing at the main peak where hundreds of tourists congregate on a daily basis.

The fences have been designed and put up in such a way that they leave a lot of room for any accidents to occur, especially as tourists are now increasingly taking selfies while leaning on the fencing.

The gap between the top and bottom of the fences are also large enough for children to fall through, and tourists are especially watchful of their children while at the point known as “suicide point” to locals.

L Ramesh, a visitor from Chennai, who was at Doddabetta with his wife and two children, aged 8 and 11, said that the fence needed to be rebuilt or replaced with a chain-link fence to ensure that excited children aren't at risk of slipping through the gap and falling. “As soon as we came here, we noticed that the area was unsafe and warned our children and others as well to not get too close to the fence,” said Ramesh.

Apart from young children, the fence was also not too high, and careless tourists who take selfies and lean on it are also at risk. Officials from the tourism department said that the fences did need to be rebuilt, but said that the work fell under the ambit of the forest department.

Speaking to

The Hindu , an official said that there was a proposal for the upgradation of the facilities at Doddabetta, including the fences. “Apart from the fences, which are to be made more safer, the proposal also includes recommendations to upgrade the roads leading to Doddabetta,” said the official.