9 rafting operators fined Rs 70K in Kullu

Kullu: The Tourism Department has imposed a fine of Rs 70,000 on nine rafting operators for violation of norms during a surprise inspection. A team of the department inspected river rafting sites located at Pirdi and Babeli villages and found that some operators were sending children and tourists for rafting without helmets. The safety of revellers was also being compromised in the absence of rescue rafts in some cases.

Kullu District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) Sunayna Sharma said all the nine violators were summoned to the office and fined between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 as per rules. She said a total fine of Rs 70,000 was collected from nine operators.

She said, “Those, who do not follow rules, will not be spared. Such kind of negligence often affects safety of tourists. The Tourism Department will file a police complaint against rafting operators if rules are violated in future. Surprise inspections will continue to ensure the compliance of norms by operators.”

The Tourism Department has started taking strict action to ensure that no tourist gets involved in any accident during adventure activities in Kullu. Recently, a tourist from Telangana was killed while paragliding at Dobhi village after which the department cancelled licences of the pilot and operator concerned.