Youngsters risking lives by climbing dangerous spots near Marudhamalai for social media fame. District officials are planning strict measures to curb these activities.
Coimbatore: In a concerning trend, youths are engaging in dangerous climbs atop hills near Marudhamalai, driven by the urge to gain social media popularity through platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube. This behavior has escalated, contributing to recent disturbing incidents. Officials have noted an increase in reckless activities, especially in restricted natural areas, propelling them to enforce penalties and demanding written pledges not to repeat these actions.
Despite warnings and the clear dangers, many continue to disregard safety, influenced heavily by the desire to create viral content. Recently, strict actions were taken against two young women in Tiruchirappalli after their dance video at the train station went viral, drawing official attention and leading to a warning issued to them. Coimbatore has witnessed similar antics near public places and restricted zones, with several instances of video recording for social media platforms.
Alarmingly, in areas near the Marudhamalai hill base and surrounding regions, there has been increased movement of wildlife such as leopards and elephants. Wildlife authorities have intensified surveillance after a security personnel from Bharathiar University was killed by an elephant recently. There is a growing dissatisfaction among locals regarding the youths' intrusion in the forest areas, and they urge authorities to act before a tragedy occurs.
br>The film "Manjummal Boys" highlighted the similar risks involved in entering prohibited cave areas. Now, a similar real-life scenario unfolds in the Marudhamalai forest, signaling a critical need for stringent enforcement.
District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati stated, "We are investigating these reckless behaviors with environmental and police authorities. Preventive barriers will be established to restrict young people from accessing these areas. Actions such as taking selfies, filming reels, or YouTube videos in public places should not cause disturbance, and penalties will be severe for those violating the rules in restricted areas."
Despite warnings and the clear dangers, many continue to disregard safety, influenced heavily by the desire to create viral content. Recently, strict actions were taken against two young women in Tiruchirappalli after their dance video at the train station went viral, drawing official attention and leading to a warning issued to them. Coimbatore has witnessed similar antics near public places and restricted zones, with several instances of video recording for social media platforms.
Alarmingly, in areas near the Marudhamalai hill base and surrounding regions, there has been increased movement of wildlife such as leopards and elephants. Wildlife authorities have intensified surveillance after a security personnel from Bharathiar University was killed by an elephant recently. There is a growing dissatisfaction among locals regarding the youths' intrusion in the forest areas, and they urge authorities to act before a tragedy occurs.
br>The film "Manjummal Boys" highlighted the similar risks involved in entering prohibited cave areas. Now, a similar real-life scenario unfolds in the Marudhamalai forest, signaling a critical need for stringent enforcement.
District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati stated, "We are investigating these reckless behaviors with environmental and police authorities. Preventive barriers will be established to restrict young people from accessing these areas. Actions such as taking selfies, filming reels, or YouTube videos in public places should not cause disturbance, and penalties will be severe for those violating the rules in restricted areas."