A recent video from the historic Harihar Fort in Maharashtra has gone wildly viral for all the wrong reasons. The footage, taken during a weekend monsoon trek, shows hundreds of people crowding the narrow, slippery steps of the fort—clinging to the rocks, climbing single file, and in some cases, dangerously slipping and losing balance.
Built into a steep hillside, Harihar Fort is famous for its iconic vertical stone staircase carved into the mountain face. But in this viral moment, what was once seen as a thrilling challenge became a source of public fear. The video captures just how unsafe the ascent becomes when overcrowded, especially during the rainy season when the steps become slick with moss and water.
The viral video has struck a chord with netizens, many of whom labeled the site a “suicide trap.” One user tweeted, “One slip and that’s it. There’s no railing, no safety.” Others called for immediate intervention by tourism officials and the forest department to cap the number of visitors and install safety gear.
Another major incident waiting to happen.?
— Woke Eminent (@WokePandemic) June 26, 2025
Harihar Fort weekend crowd surge is death trap!!
This needs to be stopped/moderated else One minor stampede or someone loosing balance and it will have cascading effect and hundreds will will fall to there death.
Tag related… pic.twitter.com/6y7IfU2D3J
This is not just social media drama. Experts and trekkers familiar with the site warn that the fort's ancient stairs weren’t designed to handle this volume of foot traffic—let alone in wet conditions. With no formal crowd control, guides, or emergency services nearby, the risk of a fatal accident is dangerously real.
While the fort remains a popular attraction for adventure seekers and spiritual pilgrims, this incident may change how the site is managed. Authorities are now under pressure to introduce stricter entry limits, install ropes or railings, and place trained personnel at critical points.
Until then, many are urging trekkers to avoid the location altogether during peak monsoon or at least go in small groups with experienced climbers.
🎥 Watch the viral video here: https://twitter.com/patilrahul0007/status/1801980175983247570