Samarth Mahangade, a student from Pasarani village in Wai taluka, Maharashtra, has taken social media by storm after a video of him reaching his exam venue via paragliding went viral. Struggling with heavy traffic and just 15-20 minutes left before his exam began, Mahangade opted for an unconventional mode of transport to avoid delays.
According to a report in NDTV, Mahangade was in Panchgani for errands when he realized the time crunch. Instead of risking being stuck in traffic on the Wai-Panchgani road, especially the congested Pasarani Ghat section, he chose to paraglide to the exam center. The viral video shows him soaring through the sky, wearing a college bag and fully equipped with paragliding gear.
Adventure sports expert Govind Yewale from GP Adventures in Panchgani stepped in to make this plan a reality. With his team’s help, Mahangade safely took off and landed near his college, ensuring he arrived on time.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked discussions on paragliding safety, as accidents related to the sport have been rising in India. Last month, a tourist from Tamil Nadu lost his life and a pilot sustained severe injuries in a paragliding crash in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu. Similarly, in North Goa’s Querim, a mishap claimed the lives of a 27-year-old tourist from Maharashtra and his 26-year-old pilot. Authorities have since been enforcing stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies.
Mahangade’s unique journey has left netizens amazed, with many praising his quick thinking, while others have raised concerns about safety risks associated with adventure sports.