Safety Precautions Tightened on Trek to Mahadeshwara Hills After Leopard Attack

Following a tragic leopard attack resulting in a boy's death at Nagamale, the Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment, Eshwar B Khandre, has imposed restrictions on trekking activities at Mahadeshwara Hills. Trekking will only be allowed during the Shivaratri and Ugadi fairs, Khandre announced during a virtual meeting with senior officials at Vikas Soudha on Tuesday.

Khandre emphasized that the full 14-km trek to Nagamale will no longer be accessible to devotees. Instead, a shorter 3-km trek is permissible, with mandatory usage of guides equipped with walkie-talkies and essential safety equipment. Additionally, travel from the ticket counter to Nagamale is to be conducted by jeep, and efforts will be made to clear bushes along the path to enhance visibility.

To ensure the safety of devotees, Khandre declared that the 7-km hill trek for seeking blessings from Lord Madappa should be prohibited throughout the year, except during Shivaratri and Ugadi. He also recommended the installation of informative signboards to raise awareness of the presence of wild animals such as elephants, leopards, and tigers in the area, and suggested that using bus services remains a safer option. This meeting was attended by top forestry officials, including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Kumar Pushkar.

(With inputs from agencies.)