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In this pleasant season of drizzling rain, the greenery of the mountains and beautiful valleys attract everyone. This is the reason why people start moving towards hill stations as soon as monsoon arrives. But remember, as beautiful as the journey through the mountains is during the rainy season, it can also be equally dangerous and unpredictable. Problems like landslides, flash floods and heavy traffic jams can spoil the fun of your trip. If you are also going on a trip to the mountains in this season, then make some very important preparations in advance so that any emergency situation can be dealt with.
It is most important to keep live updates of weather patterns and routes.
The first and essential thing to do before stepping towards the mountains is to keep a close eye on the warnings and local news of the Meteorological Department (IMD) there. Gather complete information about the situation regarding landslides or road closures on the route you are going to take. If the Meteorological Department has issued a red or orange alert of heavy rain, it would be wise to postpone your trip for a few days.
Take special care of the condition of the vehicle and your driving skills.
If you are going to the mountains in your personal car or bike, then get it thoroughly checked by a mechanic. Especially the brakes, grip of tyres, wipers and headlights of the vehicle should be in perfect condition. During monsoon, visibility on the winding mountain roads becomes very low and the roads become extremely slippery. If you are not experienced in driving in the mountains, take the help of an experienced local driver or use public transport instead of driving yourself.
Don’t forget to keep an emergency kit and essential medicines with you.
It is common for roads to be closed in the mountains during the rainy season. Many times tourists get stuck on the roads or in the forests for hours. Always keep an emergency kit ready in your car to deal with such a situation. This kit should contain essential medicines like ORS, cold-cough, fever, vomiting and bandage. Apart from this, keep a torch, matchstick or lighter, power bank and some dry food items (like biscuits, nuts and energy bars) in sufficient quantity with you.
Maintain waterproof packing and extra cash arrangements
It is difficult to predict when heavy rains will start during monsoon in hilly areas. Therefore, always pack all your important documents, mobile, laptop and clothes in a waterproof bag. Along with this, keep adequate amount of cash with you even in today’s digital era. Due to network problems in the mountains, online payments, jeepneys or ATMs often stop working, in such a situation only cash will be useful.
Advance hotel booking and local administration contact numbers
Do not make the mistake of going to the mountains during monsoon without any preparation or advance booking. Confirm the hotel booking in advance at the place where you are going. Along with this, save a list of local disaster management and police helpline numbers of that state or district in your phone and also write it in a diary, so that you can contact for help even if the phone is switched off.