Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, Jan 25: In the wake of a tragic paragliding accident that claimed the lives of a tourist and a pilot in North Goa, the state government has decided to suspend all paragliding activities across the state. The suspension covers both motorised and non-motorised paragliding, with immediate effect, until further notice.

An official order issued by Kedar A Naik, director of tourism, has stated that the department of tourism will thoroughly review the existing registrations under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982, for paragliding operators. The review will assess whether all operators are adhering to the required safety standards.

The order mandates that all paragliding operators must submit the necessary documentation to the concerned authorities. Furthermore, police officers and station heads have been directed to cooperate in enforcing the suspension and ensuring compliance.

This decision follows the unfortunate death of 27-year-old Shivani Dabale, a tourist from Maharashtra, and 26-year-old pilot Suman Nepali, who tragically lost their lives in a paragliding accident on January 18. The mishap occurred around 4:30 pm when the pair took off from Keri plateau in Querim, North Goa, but encountered a fatal cable snap mid-flight, which caused them to lose control and crash into a ravine.

The police have arrested the owner of an adventure sports company, accusing them of conducting paragliding activities without the necessary permissions or licenses. The Department of Tourism confirmed that no approvals had been granted for paragliding at the Keri plateau.

As part of the ongoing efforts to ensure public safety, the department has vowed to conduct a full inquiry into the incident and to enforce strict adherence to safety regulations and licensing norms for all tourism-related activities in the state.