Kangra Administration Enforces Strict Safety Ban on Accessing Rivers and Waterfalls

Dharamshala : Taking proactive measures to ensure public safety as the southwest monsoon intensifies across Himachal Pradesh, the Kangra district administration has imposed a strict ban on entering rivers, rivulets, streams, and waterfalls across the region.  

The emergency prohibitory directive was officially enforced by Hemraj Bairwa, the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). Invoking relevant legal provisionsunder the Disaster Management Act of 2005,

the administration cited severe safety threats to residents and visiting tourists brought on by unpredictable weather patterns.  The move comes as heavy monsoon downpours elevate the risk of sudden flash floods, violent water currents, and destructive landslides along mountainous terrain.

The restrictive order strictly prohibits all forms of recreational activities near water bodies, including bathing, swimming, fishing, and taking photographs or videos at hazardous locations. 

Furthermore, commuters and locals have been explicitly warned against attempting to cross submerged roads, fragile bridges, or waterlogged culverts.  

"Heavy rainfall can trigger instantaneous surges in water levels, transforming calm streams into deadly torrents within minutes," DC Bairwa cautioned. "All citizens and travelers must stay completely away from rivers, dams, and reservoirs both during and immediately following intense cloudbursts or continuous rain." 

 The district administration has instructed hospitality stakeholders—including hotel owners, homestay hosts, and local tour operators—to actively sensitize tourists about the dangerous environmental risks. Law enforcement agencies,

Sub-Divisional Magistrates, and local panchayats have been deployed to install warning signboards and erect physical barricades at vulnerable locations.  The DDMA, alongside the state police, Home Guards, and Fire Services, has been placed on high alert to handle emergencies.

Authorities warned that any violations of these orders will attract immediate punitive legal action.