Bengaluru: Railway Protection Force (RPF) Sunday penalised 32 tourists who tried to trek along the railway tracks to get a better view of Dudhsagar Falls on Karnataka-Goa border.The action was taken during a weekend drive launched by a special task force led by the RPF team from Castle Rock. They conducted surprise checks in the jurisdiction of Dudhsagar and Sonalium railway stations. “During the operation, 32 tourists were found trespassing onto the tracks through the forest to reach the falls. They were booked under Section 147 of Railways Act (Jan Vishwas Act) and a fine of Rs 500 was imposed on each offender, amounting to a total of Rs 16,000,” an official said.South Western Railway, Hubballi division, has prohibited public access to Dudhsagar Falls via the railway route due to safety concerns.“The forest vehicle is not patrolling the area because of rainy season. A lot of tourists from nearby districts of Karnataka and Goa are trekking through the tracks. Some people record and upload reels from there,” said Alok Kumar, senior divisional security commissioner, Hubballi RPF.
