Anachal skydining incident points to safety requirements of adventure tourism

Tourist groups travel nowadays not only to see a place they have never seen before, but also to enjoy the unique features of such places, taste local food, engage in adventure activities, etc. Professional agencies that organise tours offer packages that include all these activities. As the number of people enjoying adventure tourism is increasing day by day, skiing, sky diving, and trekking have become integral parts of tourism. Although adventure facilities are prepared with the help of modern equipment, technology, trainers, etc., such initiatives also involve the possibility of an accident at any moment.

The incident that took place a few days ago at Anachal near Munnar in Idukki is a clear indication that adventure tourism should be conducted based on proper auditing and guidelines. A family consisting of two children, a husband and wife, and an employee were stranded 120 feet in the air for about three hours after the hydraulic lever of the crane broke down. After hours of being kept at the forefront of panic, the fire force arrived and brought them down one by one using ropes. This cannot be ignored as an isolated incident. Adventure tourism should not be seen as gambling with the lives of tourists. Therefore, the government should formulate strong laws and clear protocols before granting licenses to such projects.

There should be no negligence on the part of the government. There are strict safety standards for adventure tourism in foreign countries. The authorities there ensure that they are strictly followed. Panchayat authorities may not have the expertise to monitor and give instructions on such projects at regular intervals. Therefore, the Tourism Department should consider forming a special technical committee for this purpose. Every organisation should have a rescue plan in case of an accident. A rescue plan should be formulated, prioritising how to lower those who have reached the top even if the hydraulic system of the crane fails and confirmed in advance.

The rescue operation carried out by the Fire and Rescue Services in Anachal is highly commendable. The only reason they were able to reach the top using a rope and lower the trapped people and spread a safety net was because they had received special scientific training for it. Priority should also be given to deputing such specially trained people in firefighting units in tourism areas. Safety warnings given to every person who is going to enjoy the adventure are also very important.

A strict warning should be issued that the license will be cancelled if safety standards are violated. Such accidents can be avoided in the future if the authorities take this incident in Idukki as a cautionary tale and take appropriate measures.