Sunday, January 3, 2010

The Tragedy



Hogenakkal is boasted to be a wonderful tourist place by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation(TTDC). It is described as "one of the most beautiful places in the state". There is one more important thing they neglect to mention - the trip to Hogenakkal can be a very dangerous one too!

Not wanting to scare the tourists away the TTDC do not mention this fact at all. Not only do they not inform you about the dangers lurking at Hogenakkal but they do not even try to make it any safer. This tourist site maintained by TTDC, is taxing every tourist in multiple locations for enjoying nature that is meant to be free and yet they won’t provide any safety measures.

My wife and I have lost our only son Vijayan in Hogenakkal, on the 16th of October 1999, due to improper maintenance and safety. Vijayan was a B.com final year student in Kodaikanal Christian College. On a tour to Hogenakkal, arranged by the college, Vijayan slipped into the waters and lost his life. He was fetching water to help revive a friend of his, who had lost conscience, when due to improper safety precautions on the TTDC's part he slipped and fell into the waters and lost his life.



Hogenakkal being a famous tourist spot should be equipped with more safety precautions such as warning signs and barriers; warning and preventing innocent tourists from entering dangerous areas such as the one Vijayan had entered. Hogenakkal is even lacking the most basic safety features all water areas have - life guards.

The waters of Hogenakkal is propagandized to be sacred and to have healing powers by the TTDC. Even in the place where people take bath, the safety railings are missing and the few remaining ones are falling apart. The important middle iron bar which will be the life saving supporter for the people who take bath is not there in many places. Life of some one may be so cheep for TTDC, but Vijayan was our only son, he is so precious to us he lost his life while trying to help a friend in distress.

Home

20th October 1999

Reaching Tuticorin at about three in the morning we learnt that the burial would have to be done immediately and that too without the priest, for it was against the church rules to conduct a burial at night. Since it was already too late to keep the decaying body we had to burry him with out any service. Vijayan’s mother has not seen the body of her only son, nor have any of the relatives. Now he is sleeping in his grave at such a very young age while the life should have still been there for him.

19th October 1999

I had been waiting in the mortuary since half past five in the morning but none of the officials, such as doctors or police came till nine. A doctor arrived at the hospital and started her clinic, as there were lots of patients waiting. We approached the Doctor to obtain speedy release of the body, but she said that we would have to wait until the coroner arrived. Moreover she said that they had to adhere to the rules and will have to check all the inner body parts for examination. When we opposed she told us that "he will not come back alive". Is this the way a should talk to anyone and that too someone who had just lost a son.



Even though we had arranged a taxi to bring the Police inspector to the hospital, he was not there. At around 10:30 AM a police constable arrived. At 11:15 the inspector came, while the coroners asked us to provide them with the necessary tools.

The post-mortem started with the lady doctor standing outside the mortuary shouting out instructions to the coroners. She kept spitting insulting us. Is this what she learner at medical school?

18th October 1999

Two groups of boatmen and two of our relatives set out in the search of Vijayan. Even at such a time of crisis all the people who "helped" us were mercilessly trying to extract as much as money they could. To us money was not a criterion at this time but the way in which these people thought is utterly disgusting and disgraceful. They demanded local alcohol to keep them going during the vigil (Ironic isn’t it?).



As the torturous minutes clicked by I was waiting near the police station for any news from the search party. I could not eat or drink anything and every phone call to the police station had my nerves on edge. Finally the tragic news came - they had found a body 45 kilometers away from where the accident occurred. The relatives who went along with the search party confirmed that the body was Vijayan’s.

An ambulance was arranged from Selam to take the body to Tuticorin, our home city. The college chairman took us to the spot in his car. He had promised us that he would arrange the post-mortem immediately after recovering the body so we could take home for the funeral. The doctor and the police did not appear on the scene, despite separate vehicles being sent for each of them. I saw Vijayan’s dead body for the first time and could not control myself. My relatives did not allow me to get near the body, as it was still in the river. It was an unimaginable terrible scene. As parents we had lots of dreams about our son, now he was no more

At almost half past five in the evening, it was getting dark and started drizzling again. The police arrived at the site where the body was, but the doctor had not arrived yet. The body had been found in the neighborhood of Pennagaram, and this was where the post-mortem would be performed so we had to take the body to the hospital there. It was getting later and later. While we are waiting a man approached me saying that he had found the body and and informed the search party and demanded money right away. How can people be so cruel and merciless to anyone - especially someone who just lost his only son?



The body was still on the water in a swimming posture. I over heard the search party discussing on how to lift the body. These were their exact words "we can break the hands and tie them so that we can lift more easily". Turning to me one of them said that every time they lifted I would have to pay extra since that was not part of the search. I told them to take all my money but let us leave for our hometown to give homage to the remains of my son.



Finally we reached the hospital at Pennagaram at about eight at night, only to be told that post-mortems cannot be performed after five in the evening. So the body would have to wait another night for burial. The College Chairman again promised us that early morning by seven they would finish all the formalities and let us go. Pennagaram is very little town and we can not even buy blocks of ice to keep the body from decaying. The body was left in a mortuary where there was no cooling facility or anything to prevent the body from decaying. The windows were left wide open and a roller shutter locked the mortuary.

The search party started demanding money for their services, telling us how many times they had to lift the body to get it to the ambulance and to the inside of the mortuary. The way these peoples' mentality was truly disgusts me.

There was nowhere to stay the night in Pennagaram - the nearest place where we could stay was Dharmapuri. Some time later the college chairman left for Kodaikanal for an urgent matter, again breaking his word. The father of a student from Selam was with us, and thankfully he was very helpful to us all the time. Everyone else had gone to Dharamapuri to rest but I couldn’t go anywhere leaving the remains of my son in that place.




As Christians, we bury dead persons in a casket but where could we go for a casket that night in a place where even block of ice was not available? We found a carpenter by chance, arranging his tools for ‘Autha pooja’. (A Hindu religious procedure of respecting the tools they use in their work). Usually they will not work with those tools on that day as a symbol of respect to their God for more work in the future. But thankfully he graciously agreed to make a casket when we begged him to assemble a wooden box- he had never made a casket in his entire career. Again it was a terrible night for us all.

17th October 1999

6 o'clock the next day morning we reached Bangalore and took a local taxi to the long distant taxi stand, from where we had to catch another taxi to get to Hogenakkal.



After another three hours of traveling we finally got to Hogenakkal. Our relatives, who had gotten there immediately upon receiving the news, were waiting for us. They said that there was no news about Vijayan. The local boatmen were engaged for the search for Vijayan, but the fire brigade was not there to help us. In fact they were not in the neighborhood at all. All of us anxiously waited for the boatmen to come back - every minute was precious for us.



The boys who were with Vijayan gave us lots of hope for the survival of Vijayan. They told us that Vijayan waved for help even after the current dragged him into the 60 feet deep pit and they saw him swimming in the river and clinging to a rock for a while. One local man was fishing in that area where Vijayan signaled for help but when the boys asked him to help he refused. The boys also told us that at that time it was become dark and was drizzling.

At about six in the evening the search party came back with news that they could not find Vijayan yet. Still the boys gave us hope for survival of Vijayan. The police were not much help nor did any of the Government missions help us. It was a terrible night and it was very hard to keep Vijayan’s mother at Hogenakkal. She fell unconscious several times and there are no doctors in the vicinity. We sent her to Tuticorn in a taxi were she was looked after by our family members there. I had a sleepless night and was praying the whole time.

16th October 1999

3.15 PM, 16th of October 1999, while at work, we received a phone call from India, saying that our son Vijayan had fallen into the waters of Hogenakkal falls, and that hey were searching him. The caller was a college mate of Vijayan, who said that Vijayan had fallen in to the waters while trying to fetch water from the river, but he assured us that Vijay will be ok. A while later later we Vijayan's College Chairman called from Kodaikanal, which is about about 350 km away from where the accident occurred. He said all the students had gone on an industrial trip but unfortunately there was a problem concerning Vijayan.



Being on the college basketball team, Vijayan travels to other colleges with the team and whenever got time would visit our relatives. Wherever he goes he will inform us. This time we were surprised to know that Vijayan went somewhere without informing us. We panicked and called every place where we could get any help. My wife fainted several times and I was in a terrible shock and did not know what to do. We were helpless and with great difficulty drove back home, from work.

Vijayan's college mates called again and said that as the it was getting dark and rainy so they were suspending the search for Vijayan, for the day. When we asked the students how Vijayan was there in that group of students when he did not belong to it, they said the students made Vijayan to go with them but the supervisor of the group hadn’t authorized it.



Many of our friends came helped us to get on the next available flight to India. We thank them from the bottom of our heart. We reached Mumbai airport that night, from there we went to the domestic terminal to take a plane to Bangalore.

TTDC & Hogenekkal

Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corp.

TTDC in all their web pages and other advertisements boast Hogenakkal to be a wonderful tourist’s place. It is described as ‘one of the most beautiful places in the state’. But they forget to mention that a trip to Hogenakkal can be very dangerous too! Perhaps they may not want to scare the customers (tourists) by saying that? TTDC maintains this tourist site but they tax the tourists at every point for enjoying nature. However, they don’t provide any safety for these tourist who pay their taxes.



As a well-known tourist corporation, TTDC is lacking in its duty, and mints money from other and places their lives at risk.. There are so many well-known facts about this dangerous place. The local people who live there say that drowning deaths are very common in Hogenakkal, and every ten or fifteen days some one is killed there. Both the TTDC and the Government authorities are well aware of this fact but conveniently keep quiet about it. Why? Tourists are pouring into that small village from various parts of India. School children and educational institutions send their students on sight-seeing trips not knowing the danger of Hogenakkal.




False advertisements

"This is one of the wonderful waterfalls in Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the river Cauvery and it is about 250 meters above sea level. The main attraction is the bath in the falls, dropping vertically from a height of 20 meters with a thundering sound. A sacred bathing place, Hogenakkal is well known for the power of healing water. It is located 114 kms from Salem and 133 kms from Bangalore. Hotel reservations can be made through the TTDC."

"One of the most beautiful places in the state. The broad stream of the River Cauvery gets forked at this point, forming an island from where one stream continues on while the other plunges into a deep chasm to create one of the loveliest waterfall gives these rocks the name Hogenakkal which means "smoking rock." In Kannada, since the waters of the Kauvery flow through a forest of herbs on their journey to Hogenakkal, bathing in these falls is considered to be good for health" (two different spellings for Cauvery river)

"Of coracles, masseurs and roaring waters. The sound of the Cauvery river, roaring between rocky banks, is a constant presence in most places in Hogenakkal. So too, is slap-slap thump! Though the roar of the river drowns it is you are not too close to the source of the strange sound. Hogenakkal is a riverine spa where, according to its devotees, good health can be had for the asking… and a small fee!"

Why not explore this site more to find more about what TTDC is doing here in Hogenekkal

Hogenakkal Facts - C



Food Outlets

There is no lacking of food outlets, but most of them are temporary sheds, set up along roadsides. Fresh fish caught in the river will be available fried in the presence of the customer using the forest firewood. Dosai is made in a large sheet of unclean iron. The hygiene of the food available is highly questionable.


Boat Rides

Boats are another attraction for the tourists, though highly dangerous. The "boats" being uses very thin sheets of bark tied together in the shape of a cooking pan with its bottom coated with tar to prevent water seeping through. It is so flimsy that a single person can lift it easily and carry it on his back for a long distance without any difficulty what so ever. The local people who are good swimmers use these boats for fishing - it is NOT meant at all for tourists nor is it any safe.. These boats can hardly accommodate three average weight (50 kg) passengers including the boat owner who has to paddle the boat. The visitors ride in these unsafe boats without care. There are many rumors about these boatmen: such as most boatmean take the passengers to a remote place and capsize the boat to killing the passengers, for their valuables. After snatching the jewellery the boatman will swim to a safe place and pretend it happened naturally. In some cases the boatmen blame the passengers for not sitting properly to keep the boat’s balance.


Religious Aspect

Except for a few roadside temple-like spots without roof and enclosure, there are no churches or mosques in Hogenakkal. There is no chance of eternity mixing with the water for sacred bath in the falls. Notorious deceits are living in those hills.

20th October 1999



Reaching Tuticorin at about three in the morning we learnt that the burial would have to be done immediately and that too without the priest, for it was against the church rules to conduct a burial at night. Since it was already too late to keep the decaying body we had to burry him with out any service. Vijayan’s mother has not seen the body of her only son, nor have any of the relatives. Now he is sleeping in his grave at such a very young age while the life should have still been there for him.

Hogenakkal Facts - B



Unknown Taxes

Before entering Hogenakkal forest area there is checkpoint where the forest starts. The Forest Authority give you permission to get in after checking the vehicle This is a very good practice, but after the checking is over you meet a group of non-official people who charge you Rs. 25/- (Indian Rupees). What for I do not know! You are not made aware of this because the tax is not for the Forest Department! As you enter Hogenakkal, again another group of people charge another Rs30/- to allow the vehicle in. As you walk through the water to the hanging bridge, there is a collection box where the TTDC taxes tourists and every piece of equipment (such as cameras) carried by the visitor. The tax may vary according to the size and value.

Illicit liquor shops (bars) and immoral behavior

There are many liquor shops attached with a bar (permitted or not permitted). Men lying unconscious on the ground is a common sight. People get drunk in the wine shops and get thrown out by the shop owners. Even the TTDC has a bar! The common shops sell the local liquor in polythene bags. There are even young and middle aged women of lesser integrality attracting the visitors publicly by offering "their services". Even before you finish parking the car they will rush to you. Hogenakkal is a place where there are no rules and morality. Why are college students and school children allowed to visit Hogenakkal - to corrupt their morals?

Hogenakkal Facts - A

Safety

TTDC maintains the Hogenakkal tourist spot and are responsible for the safety of the visitors yet, TTDC have not appointed anyone to provide the safety needed for the tourists. Instead they have appointed not one but many to collect money from each and everyone of the visitors for walking on the hanging bridge. Drowning incidents happen very often but, if they charge for everything why can’t they hire some life gaurds? It is a tourist place where people bathe in the sacred and healing waters, as TTDC claim. At least they could have made available inflatable rubber tubes, which could prevent someone’s death. No barricades are there for the visitors at the place you walk through the flowing water to the falls area to take the sacred herbal bath.

Unclean environment


"Of coracles, masseurs and roaring waters. The sound of the Cauvery river, roaring between rocky banks, is a constant presence in most places in Hogenakkal. So too, is slap-slap thump! Though the roar of the river drowns it is you are not too close to the source of the strange sound. Hogenakkal is a revering spa where, according to its devotees, good health can be had for the asking… and a small fee!"

Medical facilities, Public telephone and transportation

Hogenakkal does not have a hospital or a clinic. Even for minor injuries the nearest place is 20 kilometres away. When such a large crowd of tourists visit a place like this how can a responsible corporation like TTDCnot even have a first aid center? There is no public telephone for the visitors. Tourists cannot contact anyone for assistance when they are in distress - such as ambulances. People with private phones allow you to use their phone at double the usual charges. Transportation is very important for the visitors. Some of the visitors come there in their own vehicle or hired vehicle. Most of them come by bus or by open vans so for them to reach a doctor in an emergency will be a nightmare. It will be very hard to get an ambulance or a car to the nearest doctor.


These advertisements are not at all true, taking a bath in that river will not be healthy because the tourists do not have proper public toilet. They litter everywhere, pass urine, and defecate shamelessly, making the roaring rocks dirty to step on. They change the nice God-given free clean air into pungent and dirty air. Some people go there only for enjoyment and to get drunk and thus vomit is found all over the place. These dirty and filthy smells do not allow any one to enjoy nature or allow you to sit on the rocks! And the falls are described as sacred and healing water by TTDC! Please note other things get mixed in with that water such as oil from the massages given near the waters. These massagers sit around the place with their bottles of oil (God only knows what oil that is) and make all the rocks oily and slippery, specially near the water banks, so one has to be very careful when setting foot on the rocks

Why Hogenakkal ?

  • Hogenakkal is not a safe tourist place and in all aspects.

  • Before going there one should think twice.

  • The Government needs to look into this matter and increase safety procedures.

  • Experienced lifeguards should be stationed there.

  • This tourist spot should be closed for the public until enough safety precautions are set up.

  • For taking baths in the falls, certain times have to be fixed when the lifeguards are on duty.

  • The waters should be kept clean from pollution by humans

  • Facilities for first-aid must be present.

  • For emergency, 24-hrs ambulance service should be provided.

  • Telephone facilities should be provided at several outlets for the use of the public.

  • Illegal taxes should be banned - or at least put the money into proper use

  • The authority should monitor the wine bars, because there are too many of them.

  • The oil massages should be done in a separate area in order to avoid making the dangerous areas around the water slippery.

  • Advertising on the walls and rocks should be banned.

  • Toilets should be built for the visitors to use, and the locals should be trained in the use of a toilet to keep the area clean.
  • What went wrong ?



    Would This Have Happened IF...
  • The College authority had stopped him going on the trip which he did not belong to?

  • The dangerous and slippery of Hogenakkal areas had been barricaded?

  • Hogenakkal was equipped with safety equipments such as inflatable life vests?

  • Any trained lifeguards had been appointed there?

  • Government had appointed some search group would the body have been recovered earlier?


  • Who shall I ask the above questions? I am an expatriate living in the UAE, as a third grade resident. If something like this happened to me here, I would have got to the hospital in a very short time. The local police would have done their best to help me and at least the body would have been found earlier and much easier. Even as a citizen of India, my son’s life seemed to have little value. TTDC will keep extracting money from tourists without providing them safety, until the Government takes any actions on this matter more lives will be lost.