Jog Falls’ viewing gallery stays empty as floods, landslips prevent visitors (original) (raw)

Shivamogga, Karnataka, 10. 08. 2019. The famous Jog Falls of Sagar Taluk in Shivamogga District back to its glory due to heavy rain in Sharavati catchment area on Friday Photo VAIDYA

Though Jog Falls, where the Sharavati river takes a plunge from a height of 830 ft, has regained its glory owing to heavy rains, tourists are finding it difficult to reach the spot owing to flooding and landslips.

Thanks to the heavy rain that is lashing the Sharavati river valley for the past one week, water is gushing down the four cascades — Raja, Rani, Roarer, and Rocket — with tremendous volume and force.

But stakeholders are not impressed as tourists are yet to make a beeline to the waterfalls.

Sathyanarayan, a taxi driver in Jog Falls, told The Hindu that though the waterfalls offers an exhilarating view, the flow of tourists is not on expected lines.

On Thursday, landslips were reported along Talaguppa-Jog Falls road near Choorikatte and near Mavindagundi on Jog Falls-Honnavar road.

Bridge submerged

On Friday, the Kumadvati river had submerged the bridge along National Highway 69 near Choradi and traffic was diverted. This road connects Jog Falls with Shivamogga. Mr. Sathyanarayan said lack of road connectivity has forced many tourists to postpone their plan to visit Jog Falls.

In addition, the waterfalls get engulfed with mist in heavy rain depriving visitors a panoramic view. The tourist flow will increase after the rain recedes, he added.

Every year, more than 10 lakh tourists visit the spot.

Locals say tourists generally time their visit to coincide with the opening of the crest gates from the Linganamakki reservoir located upstream.

On Saturday, the water level in Linganamakki reservoir had reached 1,809 ft against the maximum level of 1,819 ft.

So once the rains abate and the discharge from the dam increases, tourists could be expected to make a beeline to the famed falls.

Published - August 11, 2019 12:06 am IST