In a harrowing incident that has shocked many and reignited a national debate about the safety of adventure tourism in India, a 16-year-old girl from Nagpur was critically injured while ziplining in the picturesque hill station of Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
The tragic accident took place on June 8, when Trisha Bijwe, who was vacationing with her family, plummeted nearly 30 feet into a rocky gorge after the zipline cable she was riding on snapped mid-air.
Trisha, daughter of Prafulla and Priya Bijwe, had been enjoying a summer break with her family when the accident unfolded during what was meant to be a thrilling outdoor experience.
A viral video circulating on social media captures the exact moment the cable gives way, sending the young girl crashing down onto a bed of jagged boulders below. The footage is not just chilling—it’s heartbreaking. Cries of horror from bystanders can be heard as the helpless teenager disappears from view, followed by a stunned silence.
The aftermath was just as distressing. Trisha suffered multiple fractures and injuries to her limbs and torso. She was immediately rushed to a nearby medical facility, where she underwent emergency surgery.
According to her father, who spoke to PTI, her condition is now stable, and she is slowly recovering from the traumatic fall. “It was supposed to be a fun family trip. We could have never imagined it would turn into such a nightmare,” he said.
The incident has sparked a wave of outrage across social media platforms and brought the glaring issue of lax safety standards at adventure tourism sites into the spotlight. Nikhil Saini, a user on platform X (formerly Twitter), shared the video and wrote, “This is exactly why adventure sports in India are unsafe. In Manali, a young girl fell from a zipline—about 30 feet—and is now fighting to recover. There’s zero oversight. Untrained people run these setups, and action is taken only after something tragic happens.”
Other users echoed similar sentiments, calling for an urgent overhaul of the regulations that govern such recreational activities. “This is horrific.
There are so many unauthorized ziplines operating all over India. They pop up overnight, without permits or inspections, and no one steps in until it’s too late,” wrote one user. Another warned:
“Never do adventure sports in India unless you trust the operator. There are no safety protocols, no training, no basic emergency response setup—just profit-driven recklessness.”
While Himachal Pradesh is known for its breathtaking landscapes and is a magnet for thrill-seekers from all over the country, this incident has exposed the dark underbelly of an unregulated and dangerous industry.
Despite the popularity of activities like paragliding, river rafting, and ziplining in towns like Manali, there remains a glaring gap in the enforcement of safety standards and training requirements for operators. Many businesses cut corners to save costs, compromising on essential gear, regular maintenance, and professional staff.
Experts in the field have called for the central and state governments to urgently step in with stricter licensing protocols, regular safety audits, and legal consequences for negligence.
“Adventure tourism can be both safe and thrilling if done right,” said a veteran mountaineer based in Uttarakhand. “But right now, many of these setups are death traps, especially for unsuspecting tourists who assume basic safety is being taken care of.”
For now, Trisha Bijwe and her family are focusing on her recovery. But the trauma they’ve endured serves as a grim warning to others. As her father put it, “We don’t want another family to go through what we did. There has to be accountability. Someone must be held responsible for putting lives at such terrible risk.”
The incident is being investigated by local authorities, though no formal arrests or punitive actions have yet been reported. As tourists continue to flock to destinations like Manali this summer, many now do so with a greater sense of caution, and a growing question: Is adventure in India worth the risk when safety comes second?