Karnataka’s Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre has instructed authorities to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) for trekking safety, intended to serve as a national model.
The Minister issued the instruction in writing to the chief wildlife warden on April 8 in the wake of the disappearance of a woman from Kerala in the dense Tadiandamol forest, and the search for a minor girl in Chandradrona hills, according to his office.
The Forest Minister has directed officials to take steps to develop an app on the lines of the ‘e-Gastu’ app developed by the Forest Department and the ‘MStripes’ app used in tiger reserves. If a similar kind of app is temporarily installed on the mobile phones of trekkers during the trek, it will be easier to track those who goes astray, the Minister suggested, adding the trekkers be provided group insurance.
In addition, Mr. Khandre has suggested that nature guides should be equipped with wireless communication sets, and they should be held accountable for safety and coordination of trekking groups under their supervision.
