Girnar Mountain Viral Video: 6 Youths Risk Lives for Social Media Thrill

Junagadh | Gujarat — The madness of social media fame has once again endangered lives — this time on the sacred and scenic slopes of Girnar’s Garwa Gadh. A video showing six youths recklessly scaling the steep mountain slope instead of using the designated steps has gone viral, shocking viewers across Gujarat. The video, widely circulated on platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, shows the youths taking a near-vertical shortcut that could have easily turned fatal.

“If even one of them had slipped, all would have fallen to their deaths,” said a forest officer investigating the case. “This is not adventure — it’s suicidal bravado for online attention.”

The Forest Department acted swiftly, tracing the youths through the viral clip and slapping a fine of ₹10,000 for unauthorized entry into the restricted forest area. The youths — identified as Shivam Devjibhai Shiyal, Dharambhai Chandubhai Chauhan, Hareshbhai Vallabhbhai Ramani, Bijalbhai Narsinghbhai Thapa, and Vishalbhai Mukeshbhai Bambhaniya, residents of Rajkot and Mahuva — were caught violating safety and conservation norms.

According to Forest Officer Arvind Bhalia, “Initial investigations show that the group climbed from the new ladder up to Velnath Bapu’s location and then veered off into the forest area to take a shortcut. Such acts not only endanger their lives but disturb wildlife and damage the protected ecosystem.”

A Dangerous Obsession

Girnar, standing over 3,500 feet tall with more than 10,000 steps, attracts thousands of pilgrims and trekkers every year. The marked trail is designed for safety — but shortcuts carved through slippery, leaf-strewn slopes are deadly.

Just days earlier, a 30-year-old man had fallen to his death from nearly 3,200 steps while attempting a similar shortcut. Despite such tragedies, the new video shows young thrill-seekers refusing to learn from past mistakes.

“This isn’t courage — it’s carelessness driven by social media vanity,” said political and social analyst Dr. Rajendra Trivedi. “The youth culture of taking life-threatening risks for likes and shares reflects a deeper social decay — a desperate need for validation online.”

Forest Department Under Scrutiny

The viral incident has also put the Forest Department on the defensive. Critics are asking how such a large group of youths could access a restricted slope unnoticed.

“If the department claims to guard the forest and collect fines, how could they miss this?” questioned environmental activist Sneha Bhagat. “Either there’s negligence, or there’s local complicity — both are equally alarming.”

The department has promised tighter patrolling, especially on weekends when footfall rises sharply. Officials say they are using the viral footage to map vulnerable routes and prevent further misuse.