Adventure activities halted in Nubra: Rafting, kayaking, zip-lining restricted over safety concerns
Nubra’s adventure tourism has been put on hold, with the administration restricting rafting, kayaking, zip-lining and other high-altitude activities until operators meet prescribed safety requirements and a comprehensive risk assessment is completed. This order was issued today by the district magistrate of Nubra.
He ordered “Whereas, the Shyok and Nubra Rivers are increasingly being utilized for rafting, kayaking and other adventure/water-based recreational activities by tourists, visitors and adventure activity operators; And whereas, such activities involve inherent risks associated with river depth, water flow, currents, weather conditions, terrain and other unforeseen factors, which may pose serious hazards to the safety and lives of participants, particularly in the absence of adequate safety assessment and requisite safety measures”.
“Whereas, in the interest of public safety and prevention of accidents, mishaps, untoward incidents and loss of human life, it is considered necessary to regulate all water-based adventure activities and sports, including rafting, kayaking and other high-altitude adventure activities such as zip-lining, being undertaken within the territorial jurisdiction of District Nubra, until a comprehensive safety assessment, inspection and risk evaluation is carried out and all requisite safety standards, precautions, equipment and regulatory measures are duly put in place by the concerned agencies/operators”.
The DM ordered a complete restriction on such activities with immediate effect.
“No person, agency, adventure activity operator, organization or any other entity shall undertake, organize, conduct, operate or facilitate any such activity without obtaining prior written permission of the District Magistrate, Nubra, subject to compliance with all requisite safety guidelines, permissions, conditions and applicable rules. Any violation of this order shall be dealt with in accordance with the applicable rules and law against the person or entity found responsible”, he warned.