VALPOI
Five students who illegally entered the prohibited Jalvane waterfall area inside the core zone of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary were rescued by a team from the Goa forest department late Tuesday night.
However, all five have been booked under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for entering the protected forest without valid permission.
According to the forest department, the students entered the sanctuary through the Parwad route on Tuesday with the intention of visiting Jalvane waterfall.
After reaching the banks of the Jalvani River, they found the water level dangerously high and the current extremely strong, making it impossible to proceed. While attempting to return, they lost their way inside the dense forest and became stranded.
The forest department received information about the missing students through its 24x7 Forest Helpline (1926) and immediately launched a search operation.
Despite darkness and difficult weather conditions, forest officers and staff carried out an intensive search and successfully traced all five students within the jurisdiction of the Parwad Anti-Poaching Camp at around 10.30 pm, rescuing them safely.
During questioning, the students stated that they had visited the waterfall after seeing social media posts and online information claiming that Jalvane waterfall was open to visitors around the clock. The forest department clarified that such information was false and misleading.
As the students had entered the protected core area without obtaining prior permission from the Forest Department, a case has been registered against them under the relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The forest department once again emphasised that Jalvane waterfall lies within the highly sensitive core zone of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and remains strictly closed to the general public. Prior permission from the forest department is mandatory for entry, and unauthorized access constitutes a punishable offence under the law.
The department has appealed to the public not to rely on unverified or misleading social media posts and to visit only officially permitted tourist destinations.
It also warned that during the monsoon season, rivers, streams, waterfalls, and forest areas become extremely dangerous due to sudden rises in water levels and strong currents.
Officials pointed out that this is not the first such incident. In the past, tourists have been stranded near Jalvane waterfall, requiring rescue operations after heavy rainfall caused rivers to swell unexpectedly.
Following those incidents, the forest department imposed stricter restrictions on entry into the area and repeatedly conducted public awareness campaigns. Despite these efforts, people continue to violate the rules after being influenced by misleading information circulating on social media.
The forest department has warned that strict legal action will continue against anyone entering protected forest areas without authorisation and urged citizens to follow safety regulations in the interest of protecting both human life and the fragile wildlife ecosystem.
The latest incident comes close on the heels of a tragic accident at Barazan Waterfall in Surla, another prohibited site within the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, where a youth from Belagavi drowned after entering the restricted area.
Following that tragedy, the forest departments in Goa and Karnataka tightened restrictions on access to waterfalls and protected forest areas and repeatedly advised the public against entering such locations without permission.
However, the Jalvane incident once again highlights how misleading social media content continues to encourage unauthorised visits, exposing people not only to legal action but also to serious risks to life.
