Goa, April 11 -- Dolcy D'Cruz

SAFETY GAPS IN TREKKING PRACTICE Durgadas Parab, a Goa-based eco-tourism guide speaks about the dos and don'ts of trekking and shares his observations on trekking practices in other regions. "He says that in places like Uttarakhand, trekking has become highly commercialised. "There, treks are often sold in packages and groups are formed just a day before the trek. People stay together for four to five days and then return. Many of them don't even know each other, and there is very little bonding or briefing." He contrasted this with practices in Goa. "Here, even for a one-day trek, we ensure proper introductions and briefings. We check everything in advance-the campsite, cooking arrangements, safety measures...