Peddapalli: In view of the heavy water flow in Gaurigundla Falls due to continuous rains, Basantnagar police have decided to close the waterfall for the general public from Sunday to prevent any untoward incident. This is because two youths lost their lives in the waterfall in 2023 and 2022. Apart from closing the road leading to the waterfall by putting up barricades, a police checkpost has also been set up in the village so that people cannot go towards the waterfall. A warning board has also been installed at the beginning of the road leading to the waterfall. Peddapalli ACP Krishna said that due to continuous rain for the last four days, the flow of water at the spot was fast. There have been incidents of young men dying in the waterfall.
So it has been temporarily closed to avoid such incidents. The ACP asked the villagers to stop anyone from coming if they try to reach the spot from another route. He said that visitors will be allowed to visit the waterfall for two to three days after the heavy water flow subsides. Gaurigundla waterfall, located on the Peddapalli-Manthani main road, three kilometres from Sabbitham village and 10 kilometres from the district headquarters, has come alive after continuous rains for the last four days. As soon as this information was received, people from nearby areas started arriving at the spot to see the water falling from the top of the Gattusingaram hills.
Apart from taking selfies by standing in front of the waterfall, tourists are also bathing under the waterfall. On July 26 last year, a youth named Manupati Venkatesh Prasad drowned in the waterfall. Venkatesh, a native of Kisannagar in Karimnagar city, had gone to the spot with his friends to enjoy the scenic beauty of the waterfall, but he drowned while bathing. On July 11, 2022 also, a youth died after falling from the top of the waterfall. While taking a selfie, he accidentally fell into the waterfall and died. After the youth’s death, the village panchayat officials had put up warning boards at the waterfalls, advising people not to climb the rocks to take selfies. However, there are still many people who are ignoring the warnings.
