Palampur: Despite warning, tourists venture close to rivers

Palampur, July 28

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Tourists visiting Palampur and its adjoining areas seem to have learnt no lesson from the recent tragedy in Kinnaur and continue to venture into rivers across the valley. On Sunday, nine tourists were killed in Kinnaur when they had stopped their vehicle on the bridge of the Baspa river when the landslide hit them.

Although the administration has issued a warning requesting tourists not to go near rivers, the latter pay no heed. A number of boards have also been put up along rivers asking the visitors to stay away from the river banks where a sudden rise in water level can prove fatal.

Despite seeing the warning boards, tourists go down to the river banks, especially to get clicked. A number of tourists can be seen getting their pictures clicked on the Neugal riverbed. The river, which runs between Palampur and Sujanpur, attracts hundreds of tourists. Saurabh Van Bihar, a major tourist attraction, is also situated on the banks of the Neugal river.

A senior official of the state government said warnings had been issued by the police asking tourists not to go near the Neugal river. “The visitors, however, do not pay attention and keep venturing into the riverbed,” he added. —OC