Shivamogga: Reports of a major rockslide at the Rocket Falls section of Jog Falls in Sagar taluk have triggered concern, though officials have not confirmed that any such incident took place.
According to locals and tourists, a loud crashing sound was heard around 2pm on Thursday, leading many to believe that a massive layer of rock, possibly nearly 100 feet in size, broke loose under intense summer heat and fell into the gorge.
Despite these claims, deputy director Dharmappa, a tourism department official, said no evidence of a rock fall was found during inspection and dismissed the reports as unverified.
However, several witnesses cited the sudden discolouration of water near the base of Raja and Roarer falls as a strong indication that a large collapse may have occurred. They suspect the rock mass may have fallen deep within the inner folds of the falls, hidden from the main viewpoints, disturbing silt and debris below.
The incident, which was widely discussed after media coverage, has led to sharp disagreement between locals and authorities. Many locals insist the sound and visible changes in the water point to one of the biggest such events in recent memory.
Environmentalists have urged an immediate scientific assessment of the area, warning that even an unconfirmed rockslide should be treated seriously given the ecological sensitivity of Jog Falls and the scale of ongoing development works in the region.
The uncertainty has added to public anxiety, especially as infrastructure projects worth Rs 183 crore continue around the iconic waterfall site.
