PERNEM
A paragliding trip ended in tragedy when a 26-year-old tourist from Pune and the paraglider pilot were killed at Keri-Pernem on Saturday evening.
According to reports, the incident took place at about 4.30 pm, when two tourists from Pune had gone for a paragliding trip on the Keri hill.
One of them, Shivani Dabale, went along with a paraglider pilot Suman Nepali (25), for a paragliding trip. One of the paragliding ropes snapped while they were mid-air and the pair hurtled towards the ground. Both are reported to have died on the spot.
On receiving the news, Mandrem Police rushed to the site and sent both bodies for an autopsy at the GMC Hospital at Bambolim.
A case under section 105 BNS (culpable homicide without intent) has been registered.
The incident shocked people in the area and some claimed that concerns over paragliding activities and even a resolution by the local panchayat to stop such activities had been ignored by authorities.
According to sources, the Keri-Tiracol Panchayat had unanimously passed a resolution prohibiting any kind of paragliding activity around Keri beach a few months ago. Though the resolution had been forwarded to authorities for implementation, paragliding activities were not stopped.
Sources have claimed that such paragliding and parasailing activities are being conducted along the coast at Arambol and Keri.
Expressing shock over the tragedy which claimed two lives at Keri on Saturday evening, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar demanded strict action against those involved in illegal paragliding and parasailing activities along the coast in his constituency.
“I have been opposing paragliding activity in the coastal areas right from the beginning. I had even informed the tourism minister and tourism department about this,” said Arolkar.
“I had also voiced my concerns to the Keri-Tiracol Panchayat and accordingly, the panchayat had passed a resolution in the Gram Sabha to prohibit paragliding activity along the village coast. We had also instructed the coastal police about this.”
“Action should be taken against those who were operating illegal paragliding services. If these operators had obtained licenses for such activities, the police should investigate and ascertain what safety and security measures were provided.”
Claiming that such tragic incidents have tarnished the tourism sector, the Mandem MLA insisted that all illegal and unregulated paragliding activities should be stopped at the earliest.
