*50 trials held in last 15 days
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
REASI, Nov 12: Paragliding, a recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders, is soon going to be started in village Tanwa, about 60 kilometre from Reasi and 40 kiliometre from Shiv Khori on Katra-Shiv Khori Road.
According to the sources, for last 15 days the trials for the paragliding is going on in the area and till date all trials have remained successful. However, the Tourism Department is yet to give permission of organizing this adventurous but risky sport to Raina Tour & Travels, a Reasi based private agency which also runs an adventurous school “High Altitude Adventure School” in Jammu, besides running operations of rafting in Chenab River in Reasi.
While talking to Excelsior, Jugal Raina– one of the three partners of Raina Tour & Travels, said that area near village Tanwa is best for paragliding as sufficient wind blows there, which is pre-requisite for para-gliding. Moreover, it is safe in many terms as no electric lines pass from here.
“In last 15 days, we have conducted 50 successful trials and after conducting trials for some more days we will start paragliding on regular basis provided we get permission from Tourism Department”, Raina said, adding, they have been assured by the higher ups in the Tourism Department on the issue.
Locals of the area said that they is no limit to their joy as many pilgrims visiting Shiv Khori has already started thronging the site and showing keen interest in this adventurous sport. They hoped that unemployed youth of the village will get employment after this thrilling sport is started here with due permission from the Tourism Department.
An expert paraglider hired by the agency, while sharing his experience of paragliding in the area, said throughout the flight, one feels pure joy and ecstasy. It is incredible looking down from paraglider’s seat, seeing oneself float above earth, suspended by nothing but a canopy and a harness. The area is very much suitable for the paragliding.
“I personally think that extreme sport like paragliding is something that one should try at least once in their lifetime”, he added.
When contacted, Director, Department of Tourism, Jammu, Om Prakash Bhagat said that a local Tourism agency of Reasi in collaboration with a National Paragliding Club has applied for permission to start paragliding near village Tanwa of Reasi district. He said for last some days, the agency is conducting trials there, which have remained successful.
The Director said that in two-three days, the department will issue permission to the agency for paragliding in the area. He further revealed that another private agency has also sought permission from the department for paragliding in Katra near Aggar Jitto. However, no trials have been conducted there till date by the agency.
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