In a recent incident in southern India’s Karnataka, police seized the clothing of tourists who had violated regulations by bathing under the waterfalls.

Visuals showed youth attempting to climb rocks before descending to a hazardous stream to bathe in the waterfall. Observing this, traffic patrol police collected the bathers’ clothes and stored them in their vehicle. Witnessing the police action, the youth returned and engaged in a heated argument with the officials.

According to officials, the police returned the clothes to the young people after issuing a warning. It remains unclear whether the youths fully grasped the seriousness of their actions, despite receiving safety instructions and having their clothes returned.

Reportedly, the forest department imposed a temporary ban last month on tourists accessing the popular Ettina Bhuja trek in Chikmagalur district due to increased visitor numbers. Despite attempts to regulate entries through online ticketing, approximately 20,000 people visited Ettina Bhuja within three days.