Kuntala waterfall runs dry so early

The dried up Kuntala waterfall 

The Kuntala waterfall has run dry- and with it, the enthusiasm of the tourists who have been thronging there in large numbers only to turn away disappointed.

Most of the devotees who visited Basar temple on the occasion of Vasantha Panchami are also visiting Kuntala waterfall but returned with disappointment.

Sama Shiva of Vijayawada was one of them, who said that it would be have been helpful if the Tourism department had put out an advisory or notice, informing the people accordingly as locals at Basar had misinformed him, other tourists too felt that there was a need for signboards, carrying full details about the waterfall, the best time to visit and warnings against going into the deep or onto slippery spots.

“But it has dried earlier than usual this year due to successive drought conditions” which was generally goes dry by April ending, said Sharada , manager of a hotel near the waterfall . 

She surmised that this was why tourists from districts from the district were staying away while those from other states had been coming expectantly.

The streams and rivulets which flow into Kuntala waterfall have dried perhaps due to high temperatures, say locals, the water usually disappearing by the end of  April.  

Cold weather, fog enhance Adilabad's scenic beauty

Scenic beauty at Nirmal ghats in the Adilabad district.

Low temperatures being recorded during the winter has brought additional beauty to the Adilabad district. Often, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has described Adilabad district as Kashmir of the Telangana state.

Chilling temperatures being recorded this season in Adilabad are attracting nature lovers and tourists to the Jannaram, Utnoor, Kerameri areas and also Nirmal ghat, Kupti ghats in the Adilabad district.

These places are tourist destinations located in the forests with the low temperatures for the last few years and forest hills covered with fog is attracting visitors from all over.

The temperatures dipped to 11.4 C in Adilabad and it may further dip in the coming days. Lowest temperature is 3 C recorded during the winter season last year in the district and it was the lowest temperature recorded in the Telangana state.

Nature lovers loved feeling of the fog and chilly breeze on their skin which they experienced in the morning hours. The Sahyadri hill attracts nature lovers from Nirmal ghats, Kupti ghats and Kerameri ghats in the district.

Lowest temperatures in the state are being recorded in the forests areas of Kerameri mandal every year. The lush green volleys in the Sahyadri hills ranges during this winter  is a scenic beauty for nature lovers.

Gradually, the amenities like good accommodation are on the increase at Jannaram, Kadam, Nirmal and Adilabad as the good roads invite people to visit the places.

A French travel blogger Stephanie Langlet who recently visited the Adilabad district to cover the Gussadi festival said, ‘she was impressed greatly by the spectacular beauty of the Adilabad district. She said, the conducive weather makes it ideal to explore the district.

Security at Kuntala falls beefed up

Tourists and visitors can no longer get close to the famous Kuntala waterfalls in Neredigonda in Adilabad district as security has been tightened to prevent deaths.  

Eleven security guards have been deployed and given walkie-talkies to control the movements of the enthusiastic tourists and visitors and alert them from going to risky spots at the waterfalls where several tourists have drowned in the past.

Number of visitors increased at Kuntala waterfall. Visitors are not allowed with liquor but are coming to Kuntala after consuming liquor in the nearest town Neredigonda.

Local youth have been employed as guards and guides and fencing has been erected around the waterfall to restrict the movements of the tourists.

However, tourists are not happy with the new restrictions as most of them want to take photographs in the waters and splash around. That has been banned.

A loud speaker system has been put in place sound the alerts if someone is in danger. The staff is unhappy with the paltry salary of Rs 2,000 as some of them are graduates.  

B. Ravinder, guard on duty at Kuntala waterfalls, said they were strictly following the visitors timings of 10 am to 4 pm which was sometimes is violates by the people coming in from faraway places.

Retaining wall at Kuntala

Retaining wall will be constructed before the existing iron fencing at downward at the Kuntala waterfall to prevent deaths and many other security measures also chalked out for the safety of the tourists.

Collector M. Jagan Mohan and Boath MLA Rathod Bapurao inspected the waterfalls and inquired about the reasons for the deaths taking pace frequently at the waterfall and sought suggestions.  

Jungle Safari attracts many