The Uttarakhand government is drawing up a standard operating procedure (SOP) for trekkers visiting the Himalayan state to ensure their safety, a police officer from Tehri Garhwal district said on Thursday.
The day before, five tourists from West Bengal, including three of a family, died after the car they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Tehri Garhwal district.
The five were part of a team of 11 from Bengal that had gone to Uttarakhand on a trekking expedition (Kedartal and Tapovan).
The bodies are expected to reach the state by Friday, sources said.
“While the accident may not have any direct link (to trekking), the fact remains that most trekkers visiting the state lack adequate training and don’t carry necessary equipment,” Navneet Singh, superintendent of police of Tehri Garhwal, told The Telegraph over the phone.
“We are in the process of drawing up an SOP. The trekkers will be required to collect no-objection certificates before the start of the trek,” he said.
The tourists will have to inform the police details of their journey, a tentative date of return, names of the guides and contact details of the team members.
