27-year-old tourist and instructor killed in paragliding crash in North Goa

A tragic paragliding accident in North Goa on Saturday evening resulted in the deaths of 27-year-old tourist Shivani Dable from Pune and her instructor, 26-year-old Nepalese national Sumal Nepali. The accident occurred at Keri Plateau, a popular adventure sports location in Goa, at approximately 5 pm. According to police, the paraglider crashed into a ravine shortly after taking off from a cliff, resulting in both fatalities on the spot.

Shivani Dable had chosen to paraglide with an adventure sports company that was operating without the required legal permits. The company’s operations were found to be illegal, which led to the police filing a case against the company owner, Shekhar Raizada, under provisions of the Indian Penal Code for endangering human life. The authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, and the cause of the crash is being examined, although no official statements have been made regarding the exact circumstances.

The paragliding accident has drawn attention to the risks posed by unlicensed adventure sports operators in India, particularly in tourist hotspots like Goa. The number of paragliding-related incidents in the country has been rising in recent years. Earlier this month, two separate paragliding accidents occurred in Himachal Pradesh, leading to fatalities, including one incident where a tourist fell during takeoff. The growing number of such incidents has raised concerns about the safety standards maintained by adventure sports companies.

As part of the investigation, the authorities are scrutinizing the safety measures followed by the illegal operator involved in the North Goa incident. The police are reviewing the company’s practices, including whether proper equipment was used and if the instructor was adequately trained. This incident comes after a similar accident in Himachal Pradesh on January 7, where a tourist died while paragliding in Kullu, following which the tourism department investigated negligence and closed the Naga Bagh paragliding site.

Local authorities in Goa have stated that they will take stronger action to regulate and monitor adventure sports operators, with a focus on ensuring that only licensed and safety-compliant companies are allowed to operate. The investigation into the Keri Plateau accident is ongoing, with police working to determine the full details of the crash and whether any further legal actions will be taken against the company or its employees.