Officials stepping up safety at tourist centres in Maredumilli

Vijayawada: Authorities are enhancing safety at all tourism centres both in the public and private sectors within the Maredumilli agency area of the Alluri Sitarama Raju district following the recent tragic death of two medicos.

A large number of tourists, especially youngsters, are heading to Maredumilli from several parts of the erstwhile twin districts of Godavari. In particular, they enjoy the long drive through the thick vegetation on either side of the road with deep valleys, high hill ranges, waterfalls and water bodies. Further, tourism centres in the area offer them amenities for trekking, watching wild animals and so on. Resorts are available in both public and private sectors for stay.

Forest department also runs ecotourism projects, Jala Tarangini being one of them, where tourists can enjoy the waterfalls.

Bamboo chicken is a favourite delicacy for tourists. It is a source of livelihood for a good number of tribals who make the delicacy, popularly known as “Bongu Chicken.”

Branded eateries are also finding their way into the agency area with air-conditioned accommodation, offering all varieties of food as available in plain areas. There are bearers taking order on their tabs for food.

However, death of the two medicos has made forest, revenue, police, tribal welfare and other departments sit up.

Rajahmundry circle chief conservator of forests Y. Srinivasa Reddy said, “We are going to call for a meeting involving officials from all stakeholder departments to review the safety norms. We will enhance safety as per requirement, so that tourists visiting agency areas like Maredumilli are safer.”

Search on for the missing medico. Meanwhile, search is on for the medico, who has gone missing at the Jala Tarangini project in Maredumilli. NDRF / SDRF teams are even using drones to trace the medico who got washed away at the waterfalls on Sunday.

Foresters say nearly 50 people arrived at the Jala Tarangini waterfalls last Sunday. All of them had been having fun when suddenly, muddy water nearly five metres high started cascading towards the waterfalls. Forest watchers noticed it and alerted all the 50 tourists, including the medicos, to come out of the waterfalls. All ran to safety except the five medicos who remained at the same place. Two of them were later found safe. Of the remaining three, two have died and one is missing.

Foresters maintain that they had improved amenities by setting up railings and steps at a cost of ₹10 lakh at Jala Tarangini for the benefit of tourists. They express anguish at the tragedy involving the medicos.