Mysuru/K.R. Nagar:  Following the death of CFTRI Scientist Dr. Somashekar who was washed away in the gushing waters at Chunchanakatte Falls near K.R. Nagar on Sunday, the authorities have banned tourist entry into the waterfalls. The entire area will be fenced and powerful sirens will be installed to warn tourists on the water release. He was washed away at the Falls where he had been with his family on a weekend trip. Water level suddenly rose after a hydel power generation unit at Chunchanakatte released the water.

Somashekar helped his wife Prathima and two children move to a safer place but before he could come up  he was washed away. Though a few localites tried to rescue him with a saree, they could not pull him up because of the force of the water.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, K.R. Nagar Tahsildar Mahesh Chandra said that he has instructed his officials to erect fencing on the rocks to prevent tourist entry. “I have held meeting with officials of Graphite India that generates power at Chunchanakatte and a survey is on to fence the entire area. We have told the company that a more powerful siren must be installed and it must sound an alert before the water is released to the river,” he said.

Apart from sounding the siren before releasing water, the company officials must install loudspeakers at the spot and announce the water release so that new tourists who come to the place knows that there is danger in the area, the Tahsildar said.

Following the incident, Irrigation officers too have taken a decision of banning entry of tourists. Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department, Saligrama Sub-division P.S. Sathyamurthy, who inspected the spot, told SOM that the place will be out of bounds for tourists.  “This is not a tourist spot. Signboards have been erected near the Falls to warn tourists that venturing into the waterfalls is dangerous as rocks are slippery,” he said and added that though such boards have been installed, tourists often ignore the warnings.

He said that he will hold a meeting with other department officials and take an appropriate decision. “This is a place where River Cauvery flows freely and tourists come here to enjoy the scenery. The only solution to prevent tourists from venturing into the water is to fence the entire area,” he said.

Officials said that Graphite India is 300mts away from the Falls and it usually sounds the siren to signal release of water. They have followed all the prescribed rules while releasing excess water. Somashekar and other visitors did not heed the siren and the tragedy occurred due to negligence, officials said.

BALAMURI TOO RESTRICTED: The tragic incident has forced the authorities of KRS to intensify vigil at Balamuri Falls where hundreds of tourists visit and venture into the water. It may be mentioned here that last year, due to an increase in the number of deaths, the Police had banned entry to  Balamuri near Srirangapatna.

Gates were installed at the entrance of Balamuri preventing tourist entry into the dangerous part of the waterfall. Balamuri is a scenic and artificial waterfall created because of the construction of a concrete barrier across Cauvery. When water is released from KRS, it forms a beautiful sight.

When water is released, it comes at a great force at Balamuri and tourists who are on the barrier are dragged downstream that is full of sharp rocks and boulders. There is a restriction on tourist entry to dangerous parts of the Falls. “Apart from the gates, we have posted Policemen to prevent people from entering the water. People can only enter the river side of the Falls downstream but not the Falls per se,” KRS Police told SOM.