Heavy Downpour Triggers Closure of ASR’s Most Visited Waterfalls
Authorities seal sites, warn tourists after repeated rescue ops at swollen streams
Visakhapatnam: Heavy monsoon rains have caused streams and rivers across Alluri Sitharama Raju to swell, prompting the authorities to close several popular waterfalls for the safety of visitors.
Incessant rainfall has resulted in sudden surges at Yerravaram, Sariya, Katiki and Thatiguda falls. Streams have overflown, creating deep trenches that were too risky to cross. After some tourists put themselves in danger to view the cascading flows, the ASR police and the district administration jointly ordered a temporary closure of the waterfall areas.
Signs have been installed along all access routes, warning people against crossing the swollen gullies. Mandal and district staff have physically blocked trails, erected fences, and stationed personnel at key checkpoints to enforce the ban.
The Yerravaram waterfall, located in Gondipakalu panchayat of Chintapalli mandal, was the first site to be sealed. Tahsildar Ananda Rao cited severe weather alerts issued by the IMD that forecast heavy rainfall due to the development of a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal. He urged tourists to postpone their visits until conditions improve, emphasizing that even seemingly shallow streams can become treacherous within minutes.
ASR collector Dinesh Kumar issued a warning and directed the officials in the tribal region to prohibit people’s entry to high-risk areas. He said rapid water-level rises have trapped numerous visitors in recent weeks. Revenue staff and VROs are maintaining a constant presence to ensure compliance.
Local tribal communities have also been informed not to permit any crossings or fishing activities in the closed zones.
The urgency of these measures stems from two recent incidents. In June, a sudden swell at the Devarapalli Sariya waterfall stranded ten tourists, who were later escorted to safety by locals. On August 12, a group of 31 visitors got trapped at the Sariya waterfall. Police and volunteers conducted a five-hour rescue operation to save them.
Tourist traffic peaks during the rainy season, driven by the allure of roaring cascades. However, the unpredictable nature of monsoon rains has led to emergencies. Visitors are advised to stay clear of all restricted waterfall sites for now.
