Kadam (NIRMAL): With no life jackets being provided to the tourists during boating in the Kadam project in Nirmal district, there is possible danger for a joy ride turning into a tragedy. Tourists are thronging the project to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place that has sprung to life due to the recent rains.
The boating facility is operated by the Telangana tourism department, charging Rs 30 per person. With the boat operators allowing overcrowding of visitors, there is the possibility of boat capsize that may put the tourists' life to risk.
Especially, youth boarding the boat are continuously moving instead of sitting at the allocated place that increases the risk of capsize as there can be a chance of the boat losing balance. In such a situation, those in the boat can fall down or the boat may overturn.
Adding to the anxiety, the boat operator is also not able to ride it steadily, even when in the middle of the water, forgetting the fact that the visitors are not wearing life jackets and neither are there air balloons tied to the boat that can be of use when in emergency.
Speaking to this newspaper, a boat operator said the travellers do not show interest in wearing life jackets because they want to take selfies in their best attire. They prefer to move freely in the boat and enjoy the beauty of the nature, he said.
Sankarneni Sudeep of Adilabad town, who recently did boating in Kadam project waters, said the tourism department should not put the tourists' lives to risk.
They should provide life jackets to all those travelling in the boat and should not allow people board if they refuse to wear life jackets as it will be risky, he added.
