- Ladakh Administration imposed Rs 50,000 fines on four illegal off-road drivers in protected zones
- Vehicles from Himachal, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh fined for habitat damage
- Wildlife officials seized vehicles after off-road stunts and released them after fines were paid
Acting strictly against rising menace of illegal off-roading, including cases of tourists driving cars in the ecologically sensitive lakes and river streams in Ladakh, the Ladakh Administration, on the directions of Lt. Governor Shri VK Saxena, has for the first time, begun prosecuting and imposing hefty penalties on erring drivers.
On June 26, the Wildlife department of Ladakh imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 each on four vehicles, who were found violating the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection). The offending vehicles owners belonged to each from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh – for driving their cars illegally into the Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife zones in Changthang and Nubra, in the last few days.
The total penalty imposed on them, amounts to Rs 2 lakh. The penalty imposed on offending drivers, reaffirms the Administration's commitment to protecting Ladakh's fragile ecosystem and endangered wildlife.
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While the cases of such illegal off-roading and stunts have been on the rise in recent times in Ladakh, it is for the first time that such strict penalty has been imposed on the miscreants. In the instant cases, all the four vehicles were impounded by the officials after a thorough investigation and the vehicles were released only after the penalty was paid.
The action follows a series of violations detected by wildlife officials during routine patrolling and through social media surveillance and reported to the LG Secretariat. The violations were reported at four separate locations under the Leh Wildlife Division—Merak and Lukung along the ecologically sensitive shores of Pangong Lake, Nurboo La in Hanle, and Sumur in Nubra Valley.
L-G Shri Saxena reiterated that while Ladakh warmly welcomes visitors from across the country and the world, tourists must be responsible and environmentally conscious. He urged tourists, adventure enthusiasts and vehicle owners not to venture into protected wildlife habitats, as such activities disturb endangered species and damage fragile ecosystems and also harms the sanctity of the tourist places.
In the latest incident, on 23 June 2026, wildlife staff detected a Mahindra Thar (PB 11DD 7773) being driven off-road near Merak, into the waters of the Pangong Lake. The driver had deliberately driven the vehicle into the water for stunt purposes, causing damage to critical wildlife habitat and polluting the lake. The driver was found prima facie guilty under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and later, the vehicle was seized.
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Similarly, on 21 June 2026, wildlife authorities acted swiftly, after a video surfaced showing a Hyundai Creta (UP 81DD 4592) engaged in off-road driving near Lukung along Pangong Lake, within the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. The vehicle was finally intercepted at Zingral, Changla Pass, the same day and impounded.
Earlier, on 20 June 2026, another social media video revealed a Mahindra Thar (PB-65BL-8698) driving through a stream inside the Karakoram (Nubra-Shayok) Wildlife Sanctuary, causing damage to the habitat and ecological integrity of the protected area. Following sustained intelligence gathering through local police, the vehicle was later, intercepted and impounded at Kharu on 21 June.
Similarly, on 17 June 2026, a viral video circulating on social media, showed a Toyota Fortuner (HP 37H 7888) being driven off-road near Nurboo La inside the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, with the driver reportedly chasing a Tibetan Gazelle. Wildlife officials immediately launched an overnight search in coordination with the Police and traced the vehicle outside a homestay in Hanle, on the morning of 18 June.
Subsequently, the four offenders paid the penalty of Rs 50,000 each and got their vehicles released.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that off-road driving within or in the vicinity of protected areas is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and warned that stringent action would continue against all such violators.