PERNEM
What began as an adventure turned into tragedy for 26-year-old Shivani Dabale from Pune.
Seeking a thrill, Shivani, who had come to Goa with a friend, decided to try paragliding at the scenic Keri plateau.
According to sources, Shivani paid Rs 4,500 for the ride. The pilot, Suman Nepali, prepared for the flight, and together they took off.
But her joy was short-lived when a sudden change in wind direction caused one of the ropes to snap, throwing the paraglider out of control. Shivani and the pilot plunged onto the rocky terrain below which proved fatal for both.
Local authorities, including the police and fire brigade rushed to the site and took almost two hours to recover their bodies from the gorge.
Police have registered a case against Shekhar Raizada, the owner of 'Hike n Fly' paragliding operator for operating the service "without obtaining permission from the appropriate authority" and knowingly endangering lives.
On Sunday, the Keri plateau had a somber atmosphere, with all activities, including paragliding and parachuting, suspended across the area.
When contacted, Dharti Nagoji, Sarpanch of Keri Panchayat, revealed that local MLA Jeet Arolkar had directed the panchayat not to grant permission for paragliding in the coastal areas.
The panchayat had also passed a resolution opposing paragliding activities on the plateau and submitted it to the concerned department. However, no action has been taken on the matter to date.
The relatives of both families have not yet arrived in Goa. Mandrem Police Inspector Sherif Jaques stated that the relatives will identify the deceased and take possession of the body.
