The number of people visiting tourist spots in Chikkamagaluru has increased after it has started raining. The district administration has the challenge of maintaining traffic, besides taking steps to avoid any untoward incidents at picnic spots.
On Sunday, a boy rolled down a hill at the Charmadi Ghat and suffered a head injury, while allegedly taking a selfie with his friends. On Tuesday, two groups of visitors were engaged in a fight over a petty issue at Sirimane falls near Sringeri.
The number of tourists at hill stations Mullayyanagiri, Bababudangiri, and Manikyadhara has increased. The road to the hill stations are busy, particularly over weekends. Among the visitors, many are bikers.
B.R. Manjunath, a native of Sakleshpur, who visited a hill station on Tuesday, said: “I drive to Kemmannagundi to enjoy the rain as there is none in my place”.
The police and forest officers have increased staff at check-posts. Policemen were seen checking vehicles at Kaimara, on the way to hill stations, on Tuesday. No visitor is allowed to carry liquor. “If people consume liquor in public places, it will vitiate the environment. We have taken measures to avoid such incidents,” Superintendent of Police Harish Pandey told The Hindu on Wednesday.
The district administration has deployed policemen at Devaramane in Mudigere taluk, Sirimane falls near Sringeri, and Kallathagiri falls near Tarikere. “Except for Sirimane falls, policemen have been deployed in all places for the last 15 days. From Tuesday evening, police were posted at the falls after two groups engaged in a scuffle here,” the officer said.
The residents of Kottigehara in Mudigere taluk have appealed to the police to patrol along the Charmadi Ghat. Santhosh, a resident of Kottigehara, said: “The police have put up boards suggesting the public avoid taking selfies at risky places. But they are of no help. Police patrolling might help avoid such instances,” he said.
