In a daring and unique feat, a college student from Satara district took an unconventional route to his exam center—paragliding over traffic to make it on time. The student, identified as Samarth Mahangade from Pasarani village in Wai taluka, became an internet sensation after a video of his airborne commute went viral on social media.
On the day of his exam, Samarth was in Panchgani for personal work when he realized he had little time left to reach his college. He faced a major roadblock—heavy traffic congestion in the Pasarani Ghat section of the Wai-Panchgani road. With just 15-20 minutes remaining, it seemed impossible for him to reach his exam venue on time.
However, help arrived in the form of adventure sports expert Govind Yewale from GP Adventures, Panchgani. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Yewale and his team suggested an extraordinary solution—paragliding over the ghat to bypass the traffic bottleneck.
With no other viable options, Samarth agreed. Under the guidance of trained paragliding instructors, he strapped on his gear, took flight, and glided over the traffic-laden route, landing near his college just in time to sit for his exam.
The video of Samarth’s dramatic entry quickly gained traction online, drawing admiration from netizens. Many praised his quick thinking and the adventure sports team’s swift action, while others pointed out the persistent traffic woes in the Pasarani Ghat area that trouble both locals and tourists alike.
This extraordinary incident not only showcased Samarth’s determination but also sparked discussions about the need for better infrastructure and traffic management in the region.