Bathing ban at ‘Papanasam Thalaiyanai’ is being flouted

Defying the bathing ban at ‘Papanasam Thalaiyanai’, ‘adventurous tourists’ dare to take a dip at this dangerous spot by jumping into the pool while others wash their clothes at this slippery zone.

After four youth from Puducherry met with a watery grave at ‘Thalaiyanai’ on October 16, 2016, the then Superintendent of Police V. Vikraman banned bathing at this point, which had witnessed over a hundred drowning over a decade.

On the same day, another three from Chengalpattu too drowned in the Tamirabharani at Mukkoodal that forced the official machinery to impose ban on taking bath at ‘Thalaiyanani’

However, tourists, particularly the youth, ignore the ban without realising the danger in store. While some jump into the pool, a few dare to dive into the dangerous puddle. With water level in Papanasam dam having fallen below 10 feet, only 29 cusecs of water is being released. Consequently, the water, which would usually be flowing over the ‘Thalaiyanai’ majestically, is now flowing feebly below the concrete structure.

Hence, youth jump from the ‘Thalaiyanai’ into the pool near the structure while others, liberally using detergents, wash their clothes in the pool. Unfortunately, forest personnel deployed near Agasthiyar Falls and at the main entrance of the Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve do not even warn the visitors against taking bath at ‘Thalaiyanai’ or take stringent action against the violators. They just turn a blind eye on this violation.

“Since the number of people coming to Agasthiyar Falls is increasing everyday during this summer, the meagre flow of water in the perennial waterfalls does not attract the visitors. They defy the ban and dare to take bath at ‘Thalaiyanai’. If the ban is not strictly enforced, it may result in loss of life as those diving in the pool may get seriously injured by hitting submerged rocks,” said S. Ramasubramanian of Papanasam.