The picturesque hills and the country's biggest natural waterfall attract tourists but they go there unaware of dangers mainly due to lack of authorities' attention to their safety and security.

Hardly any tourist season passes without an incident of drowning in the deep ditch of the waterfall as there is no cautionary warning about the danger. Locals and forest officials said at least 20 people drowned in the ditch over the years, most of them children and youths.

They said the authorities were alerted about dangers before every tourist season but it always went unheeded. Tourist season begins there with the onset of rains as the waterfall becomes more lively, they said.

Forest Department officials said, tourist like to take bath and swim in the water down the hills. They often go to the deep danger area of the ditch just to be trapped. Tourists also climb the 200 feet hill risking death from fall.

The latest incident took place on May 25 when Anisur Rahman, a fourth year BBA student of South East University drowned in the ditch of the waterfalls. Anisur went there with his 12 classmates. His body was recovered next day.

Earlier, two students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet slipped from the 200 feet hill and died. Seven tourists including five students drowned in the ditch since 2004, forest officials and locals said. They include school student Tahmina Harun Chaudhury of Zakiganj; Mohammed Ali Minu, an employee of British American Tobacco Company; Farzana Islam Bahrni, a student of Sylhet Osmani Medical College; Nazrul Islam, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); Shahidur Rahman Shahed, a student of Khulna University.

Talking to this correspondent, young tourists Abu Nayeem, Saiful Islam and Nazmul Shams said the main problem for them was absence of guide at Madhabkunda. Marking danger areas and construction of security wall could also serve as warnings for tourists.

A lessee looks after the waterfall area. Local people said Madahbkunda should be handed over to the tourist or forest department for maintenance and security.

Sub Divisional Forest Officer Saidul Islam in Moulvibazar readily said work on marking danger zones, construction of security wall and barbed wire fence will be started soon. Appointment of a guide is also under consideration, he said without giving any timeframe.