Formulate model SOP for trekking safety in Karnataka: Eshwar Khandre tells officials

Eshwar Khandre, Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment has told officials to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) for trekking in Karnataka.

His office in a release said that he issued the instruction in writing to the chief wildlife warden in the wake of the disappearance of a woman from Kerala in the dense Tadiandamol forest, and the search for a minor girl in Chandradrona hills.

The forest minister has directed to take steps to develop the an app and provide group insurance to trekkers, like the ‘e-Gastu’ app already developed by the Forest Department and the ‘MStripes’ app used in tiger reserves, if a similar kind of app is temporarily installed on the mobile phones of trekkers during the trek, it will be easier to track those who go astray.

In addition, Khandre has suggested that nature guides should be equipped with wireless communication sets and they should be held accountable for safety and coordination of trekking groups under their supervision, it added.