ETUNAGARAM TOUR ( EPISODE - 10 )

Prady: - Boss, is this region a Maoist or Naxalite area?

Arindam: - Why? Suddenly, why are you asking this question?

Prady: - Our bus is entering the Palasam village. Here, I can see a CRPF camp and a white-color painted tower of around 15 feet height. Look there, a CRPF Jawan is sitting inside that tower with a big gun.

Arindam: - No, no, maybe he is a guard of this forest department. I think that we are about to enter the region of Etunagaram forest. Wait; let me ask this passenger about it. Accha, how far is Etunagaram from this place?

Bus Passenger: - Oh! We have reached Palasam…hmm…just after this stoppage only, the Etunagaram forest area starts.

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Prady: - Yes, this passenger was right. Now, our bus is travelling through a narrow road inside a dense forest. On both sides of the road, the jungle is very dense and dangerous too.

Arindam: - Look at the bus driver. He is looking at the right window and at the left window continuously. Is he scared of something? He has slowed down the speed of the bus.

Prady: - He is looking here and there to make sure that no animals of this forest are going to pass this main road at this moment. If he speeds up the bus, then there may be a chance that an animal, which is going to cross the road, will die in a road accident. Look at this signboard. My goodness, there is a picture of a leopard. I can’t read, what is written in Telugu language on the signboard.

Arindam: - I think that we need to ask these passengers about the Etunagaram forest office.

Prady: - I think that we have to get down at this check-post.

Arindam: - Wait, wait, let me ask this passenger. Is it the Etunagaram forest office?

Bus Passenger: - Where you people want to get down?

Prady: - Etunagaram Bus stop only.

Bus Passenger: - Then just relax and be seated. The last stoppage of this bus is Etunagaram bus stand only.

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Arindam: - We have reached the Etunagaram Bus Stand. Let us get down.

Prady: - Wait, I need to ask a local person here about the Etunagaram Forest office. Accha, can you tell me, where is the Etunagaram forest office? We need to meet the forest officer of this Etunagaram forest.

Local Villager: - Sir, can you see that man, wearing a khaki colored outfit and sitting in front of the ticket counter. His name is Chiran. He is the bus starter of this Etunagaram bus stand. Go and ask him. He can help you with the information.

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Chiran: - You want to go to Etunagaram forest office? You people want to meet the forest officer? Who are you people? Where from are you coming? For what purpose, you want to meet the forest officer?

Prady: - We have come here for a tour.

Chiran: - Tour in Etunagaram forest? Are you joking? What is there to see in this Etunagaram forest?

Prady: - In the Internet, I have read that a jeep-safari is conducted for the tourists from this Etunagaram forest department. Also, the facilities of night camps are there.

Chiran: - Those safaris were conducted five years back. But, after some major accidents and other problems, the Etunagaram forest department has stopped the jeep-safari and night camping for the tourists. Nowadays, you can hardly spot any animal. The numbers of animals are decreasing drastically in this Etunagaram forest.