The Nashik district, especially during the monsoon, has become a favourite destination for tourists. The mountains, lakes, dams and waterfalls in Igatpuri, Trimbakeshwar, Surgana, Peth and other talukas attract tourists in large numbers. However, the increasing crowd of tourists and the accidents that occur due to it have become a matter of concern.
Nashik district is known as the district of forts, as it has the highest number of forts in the state. These forts especially attract young trekkers, and their numbers are increasing day by day. Most of the forts have narrow paths to climb. In such places, thousands of youth gather at the same time to reach the top of the fort, which increases the chances of a stampede.
Growing crowd at Harihar Fort:
Every day, thousands of enthusiastic trekkers visit Harihar Fort, which is famous for its steep and straight steps, considered the most difficult to climb. Last week, thousands of youths had thronged the fort, and the situation got out of control. As trekkers climbed the fort, volunteers from the village panchayat's forest committee helped the youths descend safely. In such situations, the question of who is responsible if any untoward incident occurs becomes important.
Administration's efforts and challenges:
An official from the forest department in Trimbakeshwar said, "We have taken the help of the police department and have also discussed this matter. Security will be maintained at Harihar Fort every Saturday and Sunday. As a preliminary measure, we have restricted the number to only 300 persons. We have appointed volunteers and forest guards."
Prashant Pardeshi, mountaineer and blogger, has expressed displeasure over the administration's inaction. "This is dangerous tourism. The administration should work on creating a safe and healthy environment for tourists. We cannot blame people every time. There should be a system for visiting such places. Facilities should be provided for tourists. There are about 400 forts in Nashik. There are different ministries in the state for various purposes related to these monuments. There are offices and people for this, but nothing has changed," he noted.
"Considering the risk of accidents and stampedes at the forts due to the increasing crowd, the administration and the concerned departments need to take immediate and stringent measures so that the safety of tourists can be ensured and the historical importance of the forts is also preserved," he added.
