Karnataka Mandates Guided, App‑Tracked Treks Under New Forest SOP

Overview

• The Karnataka Forest Department released the safety SOP on Friday, requiring certified guides and phone tracking for all treks on its routes.
• Each group must have one local guide for every 10 trekkers who carries a GPS‑enabled walkie‑talkie and checks in with base camp every 30 minutes.
• Trekkers must register online and install a route‑map app, solo registrants are assigned a guide, and each batch is capped at 150 people.
• Guides will carry first‑aid kits and give pre‑trek briefings, base camps will provide toilets and drinking water, and routes will have markings and rest points.
• Officials will bar guideline violators from future treks, guides can file complaints through a mobile app, and 44 destinations will be integrated into the state booking site next.