A paraglider on the International Paragliding Festival at Wagamon in Idukki on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: JOMON PAMPAVALLEY

The ongoing 4-day International Paragliding Festival at Wagamon in Idukki will draw to an in depth on March 17 (Sunday). According to officers, the pageant is collectively organised by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) underneath the Department of Tourism and the Idukki District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) with the technical assist of the Paragliding Association of India.

KATPS CEO Binu Kuriakose stated that that is the primary time Wagamon is internet hosting a competition-level paragliding pageant. “We received 107 registrations for participation while 75 participants were allotted a place in the competition. District Collector Sheeba George will distribute the prizes to the winners at the concluding ceremony on March 17 (Sunday),” stated Mr. Kuriakose.

Preeya Jain, a pageant participant, stated that Wagamon is a perfect place for paragliding. “It was a nice experience to fly in the hill station,” she stated.

Jobin Yendayar, one of many contributors and a paraglider in Wagamon stated that paragliding is without doubt one of the main vacationer sights in Wagamon. “The famed hill station is one of the few suitable places for paragliding in south India. Besides, the competition will help raise awareness of the practices and performances of the gliders from other States and countries,” he stated.

Idukki DTPC secretary Jitheesh Jose stated that the festvial will assist unfold the phrase on Wagamon as a really perfect paragliding vacation spot across the globe. “We hope the festival will help to attract more tourists to Wagamon,” stated Mr. Jose.

‘Wagamon not-so-suitable site for paragliding’

However, Wing Commander (Retired) U.K. Palat, a paratrooper and an journey sports activities knowledgeable raised security issues over the touchdown area at Wagamon which is in use through the pageant. “A paragliding site should have a reasonably large landing area below. In many cases, the top landing area may not be available to the participant due to turbulence, eddy effect, insufficient ridge lift, glider handling peculiarities of a particular pilot, etc,” Mr. Palat stated.

“The number of landing accidents (6 in 2 days) reported in Wagamon in this event indicates this. The Suicide Point site has few other general wind patterns and terrain-specific issues, making it less than ideal for paragliding. For an international event with 75 participants from 15 countries, there should’ve been a few hundred successful flights by this time. This indicates the general wind pattern there, making it a not-so-suitable site. I hope I’m not sounding too negative because the organisers must have worked hard for the event’s success. I shouldn’t hurt their feelings. At the same time, while taking calculated risks is alright in adventure spots, there should be no place for foolhardiness,” stated Mr. Palat, who’s a Shaurya Chakra awardee.