Youths risk lives climbing Mount Girnar off-path; viral video sparks probe

Junagadh: A video showing a group of five to six youths climbing the steep slopes of Mount Girnar by taking a dangerous shortcut instead of the safe stepped route has gone viral on social media, raising serious safety concerns.

In the viral clip, the youths are seen scaling the slippery and uneven hillside near Garwa Gadh, risking their lives in what appears to be a social media stunt. The path, covered with loose stones and leaves, is highly accident-prone. Just days ago, a man had died after falling while attempting a similar shortcut — he slipped near the 3,000th step and tumbled nearly 500 steps down.

The incident has triggered questions over the Forest Department’s security measures, with many wondering how such a large group accessed the restricted path.

After the video went viral, the Forest Department and other authorities launched a detailed inquiry to identify the individuals involved and determine whether forest conservation norms were violated.

Forest Officer Arvind Bhalia said a preliminary probe suggests that the youths had climbed via a newly opened staircase near Velnath Bapu’s area and then proceeded toward the steep, risky terrain of the mountain. DehsGujarat