Kalimpong paragliding firms must register

KOLKATA: Paragliding in Kalimpong will remain suspended till all companies that provide the service register themselves, hire properly trained pilots with valid licences and procure safety gears. The decision was taken at a meeting of paragliding companies, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and district administration officials, and the state tourism department on Thursday.

A paragliding pilot was killed and a tourist was injured in Kalimpong when the paraglider brushed a tree and plunged around 40ft onto the concrete roof of a building on November 24.A video that surfaced a few days later showed that the pilot was not wearing a helmet, violating one of the basic rules of the adventure sport. The authorities stopped the adventure sport soon after they discovered that many companies were not adhering to the safety guidelines.
“Companies have been told to keep services suspended till proper rules are framed and implemented,” an official from the tourism department said.
The paragliding companies will have to hire pilots with proper training record and licence from authorized institutes. They should also have 300 hours of flying experience. Close to 10 companies operate 50 paragliders.
“A set of rules will be drawn up soon and all the companies will have to get registered. There are a few locals who have opened paragliding companies, but they do not possess any expertise,” said Susanne Khati Lenngran, president of the Kalimpong Paragliding Association.
Companies that want to continue operations will have to procure proper safety gear and paragliding equipment like the canopy and the gliders. The cost of the equipment ranges between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh. Paragliding companies charge tourists Rs 3,000 for a 20-minute joyride.