Ladakh fines 4 tourists Rs 2 lakh for illegal off-roading in Pangong Lake
In a first-of-its-kind crackdown, the Ladakh Administration has imposed a total penalty of ₹2 lakh on four tourists for illegally driving vehicles through Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife areas, citing serious environmental violations under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The action was taken on the directions of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena following a rise in incidents of tourists performing off-roading stunts in ecologically fragile zones. The Wildlife Department fined each of the four vehicle owners ₹50,000 after they were found entering protected habitats in Changthang and Nubra.
According to officials, the violators belonged to Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Their vehicles were impounded during the investigation and released only after the penalties were paid, reinforcing the administration's zero-tolerance approach towards environmental violations.
The violations were detected through routine wildlife patrols and social media monitoring. The incidents occurred at Merak and Lukung near Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle and Sumur in Nubra Valley, all of which fall under the Leh Wildlife Division.
Officials said one Punjab-registered vehicle was driven into the waters of Pangong Lake to perform stunts, while another Uttar Pradesh-registered car was traced after a video surfaced showing it off-roading inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. In another case, a vehicle allegedly chased a Tibetan gazelle, an endangered species, while another jeep was driven through a protected stream in the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Lieutenant Governor appealed to tourists and adventure enthusiasts to act responsibly while visiting Ladakh, warning that illegal off-roading damages fragile ecosystems, disturbs wildlife and degrades the region's natural heritage. Authorities said stringent action will continue against anyone found violating environmental and wildlife protection laws.
