The Uttarakhand government has prepared draft regulations for bungee jumping activities in the state, with the aim of enhancing safety standards, reforming operational standards and introducing a formal mechanism to monitor adventure sports operators, officials said on Saturday.
The proposed regulations will cover infrastructure and equipment standards, qualifications and training requirements for staff, safety standards for participants, emergency response protocols, and record-keeping and inspection procedures. The framework will also include provisions on financial penalties and cancellation of licenses for violations.
Tourism Minister Dheeraj Garbial said the draft was prepared after consultations with stakeholders and experts and is expected to be implemented within a month after obtaining Cabinet approval.
“We have been working on the regulations over the past few months and have prepared a draft to regulate bungee jumping activities in the state. Stakeholders, including experts, have been consulted on the provisions that should be included. We expect the regulations to be implemented within a month after the Cabinet approval,” Garbial said.
He said that while the district administrations currently supervise bungee jumping activities, the Ministry of Tourism will become the main authority once the regulations come into effect.
According to Garbial, operational standards will be aligned with internationally accepted standards, including those followed in New Zealand, one of the world’s leading destinations for commercial bungee jumping.
“The standards of structures and equipment will be fixed. Staff and operators involved in the activity must be properly trained and have sufficient experience. The regulations will also specify eligibility criteria and safety requirements for participants,” he said.
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Elderly participants may be asked to provide a certificate of medical fitness before making the jump, Garbial said.
“We will make sure people are informed of the risks involved, especially if they have heart disease, high blood pressure or other medical conditions,” he added.
The regulations will also provide for periodic inspection and certification of equipment and structures, and maintenance of operational records and standard operating procedures for emergencies and rescue operations.
“We will introduce provisions for financial penalties and cancellation of licenses if the regulations are not followed,” Garbial added.
The move comes amid growing concerns about safety standards in the adventure tourism sector. The stretch between Rishikesh and Devprayag (Tere Garhwal) has emerged as a major hub for adventure sports, including bungee jumping.
On Monday, a 21-year-old man from Dehradun died soon after doing bungee jumping near Devprayag in Tehri Garhwal district. Officials said he complained of severe chest and abdominal pain and had difficulty breathing after returning to the stage. His condition deteriorated and he was pronounced dead at a local health facility.
In another incident on November 12 last year, a 23-year-old man from Gurugram suffered serious injuries after his bungee cord snapped in mid-air while jumping in Rishikesh.
The proposed regulations are part of a broader effort by the state government to tighten oversight of adventure tourism activities.
In May, HT reported that Uttarakhand was considering a comprehensive regulatory framework for trekking and mountaineering, including mandatory registration of operators, compulsory certification of guides and measures to enhance safety and environmental protection in ecologically sensitive Himalayan regions.
