Keri: The drowning of a 15-year-old boy from Belagavi at the prohibited Barazan waterfalls on Sunday has once again highlighted the growing risks posed by unchecked picnicking at Surla’s remote waterfalls, where repeated fatalities have failed to deter visitors from ignoring entry restrictions.Aditya Dilip Kumar Satpati drowned while swimming at the Barazan waterfalls, despite prohibitory orders and warning boards put up by the Goa and Karnataka forest departments. His body was recovered on Monday evening from crevices between boulders by a special rescue team from Belagavi.Forest officials and local residents said the accident is the latest in a series of drownings at the site, which attracts hundreds of visitors every weekend during the monsoon.The Barazan waterfalls, formed at the confluence of the Vaigani nullah from Chorla and the Kalasa nullah from Kankumbi, lie within the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. Although public entry is prohibited, picnickers continue to reach the spot by trekking through forest paths in Karnataka’s Kankumbi forest range before crossing into Goa.The deep pool beneath the falls conceals large submerged boulders, making it particularly dangerous for swimmers unfamiliar with the terrain.“Over the last decade, more than five people have lost their lives here, while several others have been rescued from drowning,” said Surla-based wildlife enthusiast Ramesh Zarmekar. “Despite prohibitory notices issued by both the Goa and Karnataka forest departments, hundreds of picnickers continue to visit the site every weekend.”Range forest officer of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary Geerish Bailudkar said surveillance has been intensified to curb illegal entry.“We have stepped up patrolling in Surla, while officials of the Kankumbi forest range have dug trenches and erected fencing to prevent visitors from accessing the waterfalls,” he said.Officials said similar concerns exist at the nearby Ladkecho and Zalavaticho waterfalls, where large crowds continue to gather despite repeated warnings.
