Karwar: A trip to Dudhsagar for over a hundred visitors on July 16 turned out to be a punishment as Railway Police made them do sit-ups for violating the ban to visit the mesmerising waterfalls in Uttar Kannada District.
The Railway authorities have banned trekkers from visiting Dudhsagar in Castle Rock in Uttar Kannada District following incessant rains here. Tourists have to obtain permission from Goa state to visit.
While the waterfalls is in Karnataka, the water that flows from the falls is within the Goa State limits. Hence, visitors have to seek permission from the neighbouring state. In fact, one has to trek all the way to the falls from the railway line that runs near the falls or from Castle Rock to reach the falls.
With July 16 being weekend, more than hundred visitors from Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharawad, Bagalakote and Uttar Kannada had thronged the waterfalls. The Dudhsagar Railway Stop does not have a platform or a station. But the tourists have to get down from the train that reduces its speed here and walk a kilometre along the railway track to reach the falls, considered sixth highest waterfalls in the country. This is quite precarious and rough terrain and one has to bear the constant rain that pounds the region. The falls come to full glory in monsoon and the view is breathtaking but it is strenuous to reach over there.
“Although there is a ban on trekking to Dudhsagar, over a hundred visitors had thronged the falls, putting their lives at risk. To make them understand the consequences, the Railway Police made them do sit-ups and promptly sent them back,” said a visitor, adding he did not expect such a treatment from the Railway Police.