Regulated trekking trips

Almost all national newspapers carried the news of how two trekkers were caught between terrorists and security personnel on the hills of zabarwan recently. The duo hid under the cover of a huge rock and immediately called the first responder helpline. They were lucky that their stress call was acted upon by the entire chain of command in a moment of a few minutes and the duo managed to save their life. This incident could have been easily avoided if the local Station House Officer (SHO) was aware that the duo were on the mountain for a short duration circle trekking trip. Informing about the prospective tours in advance can prevent many accidents from happening.
This incident brings to the spotlight the unbridled number of trekking tours organised by both registered as well as unregistered trekking enthusiasts from across the country. Since the trekking trip business is a one time investment with huge perennial revenues a lot of local youth have invested their time and money into it. Even though for the Great Lakes circle there is a mandatory permission required from the Wussan army camp but many trekking event organisers just bypass this norm for smaller duration treks. On the other trekking routes there is a haphazard jamboree of mountaineering enthusiasts milling up and down the slopes. We must keep in mind how an entire crew of trekking enthusiasts from Bengaluru lost their lives on a mountain in Uttarakhand. Up in the hills weather vagaries are the order of the day.
The government must proactively step in and keep informing the local incharge police officer of a mandatory ‘to do’ on all trekking routes of the valley – whether trips involving multiple day treks or short duration circle treks. The duo that got trapped between terrorists and security personnel could have easily lost their lives but they did the smart thing by calling the police helpline number. They were also extremely lucky as the area had network coverage.
The trekking groups, event organisers and all other allied players in the high altitude adventure circles must provide their itinerary to the local police way in advance and provide the identification documents and photographs of the prospective trekkers in advance. Organised trekking tours are the need of the hour keeping in view the delicate ecological balance of the valley and the emerging security scenario.