Trekking safety in India

Most trekking accidents in India are not dramatic. They come from a slip on wet rock, a stream that rose overnight, a group that split up, or a late start that ended in the dark. This guide covers the basics that prevent most of them.

Tell someone your plan

Before you leave, send a short message to someone who is not on the trek:

• the trek name, start point and route, including any side trips
• who is in your group, with their phone numbers
• the organiser’s or guide’s name and number
• the day and time you expect to be back in network coverage
• what they should do if they have not heard from you by a set time (for example, call the organiser, then the local police)

Then follow the plan. If you change route, tell someone. Register at forest check posts and permit offices where they exist, so there is an official record that you entered.

On the trail, NDMA’s advice for hilly regions applies: stay with your companions, and note your route so you cannot get lost in the forest. Learn how to signal to rescue teams and helicopters in an emergency.

Weather and landslides

NDMA advises planning trips to hilly regions using information from the weather department or the news. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) publishes district forecasts, warnings and a Mountain Weather Bulletin on mausam.imd.gov.in. Check them before you leave and again at the roadhead if you have signal.

Start early, so you have daylight in hand if the weather turns or the trail is slower than expected.

Landslide warning signs (from NDMA):

• falling rocks, fresh cracks in the ground, or sinking buildings and roads
• muddy river water, which can mean a landslide upstream
• unusual sounds, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together

If you see these, move away from the landslide path, or out of the valley below it, without delay. Report what you saw to the nearest tehsil or district office. NDMA also advises:

• do not walk over loose debris, or touch fallen electric wires or poles
• do not drink untreated water straight from rivers or springs after a landslide
• do not move an injured person without first aid unless they are in immediate danger

River crossings

Moving water is one of the biggest dangers on Indian treks, especially during the monsoon.

NDMA’s flood advice applies directly:

• Do not walk through moving water. NDMA says six inches (about 15 cm) of moving water can knock you over.
• If you must cross, cross where the water is not moving, and use a stick to test the ground in front of you.
• Flash floods can come down streams and gullies suddenly, with or without rain overhead. Heavy rain upstream is enough.
• If there is any chance of a flash flood, move to higher ground immediately. Do not wait to be told.

On the trail this means:

• Cross one at a time, with your group watching from the bank.
• Never camp on a dry stream bed or on low ground beside a river.
• If a crossing looks bad, wait or turn back. A day’s delay is better than a drowning.

Wildlife

Leave No Trace’s advice on wildlife is simple:

• Watch animals from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. It harms their health and teaches them to come to people.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home. Some parks, such as the Great Himalayan National Park, ban pets completely.
• Give animals extra space during mating, nesting and raising young.

Store food where animals cannot reach it, and carry all leftover food and scraps out with you. In elephant, bear or leopard country, follow your guide’s and the forest staff’s instructions.

Trekking solo

Trekking alone means there is no one to go for help if you twist an ankle or fall ill. Some areas do not allow it:

• Protected Area Permits for foreign tourists are for groups of two or more.
• In the Great Himalayan National Park, multi-day trekkers must hire certified guides and porters.
• Many trails now need a local guide or an online booking. Check the trek page and the permit office.

If you still go alone:

• Choose a well-used trail in a stable season, not your first trek.
• Leave a detailed plan, and agree a check-in time with someone at home.
• Carry a power bank, a headlamp, a whistle, a warm layer and extra food.
• Turn back early. Pushing on alone at dusk is how small problems become rescues.

Emergency numbers

Dial 112. This is India’s single emergency number for police, fire and ambulance, run through each state’s Emergency Response Support System (ERSS). According to the official ERSS FAQ:

• 112 works in all states and union territories, and the call is free.
• You can reach it by phone call, SMS, email, the 112 India app, or your phone’s panic button. On a smartphone, pressing the power button three times quickly calls 112.
• The FAQ says you can call 112 from a mobile even when your own operator’s network is not available.
• You can speak English or Hindi if you do not know the local language.

Remote valleys often have no signal from any network, so do not rely on your phone. Find out where the nearest signal point is, often a ridge or a village, before you need it.

State and district help. States and districts also run disaster control rooms and helplines, and the numbers differ from place to place. Before your trek, save these numbers from the official website of the state and district you are going to:

• the state or district disaster control room
• the local police station
• the forest range office or forest helpline (Karnataka’s, for example, is 1926)
• your organiser’s emergency contact

Write the most important numbers on paper too, in case your phone dies.