'Avoid bad risks': Zoho CEO urges young risk-takers to be cautious after paragliding death, warns of too many accidents

Jayesh Ram, a 27-year-old entrepreneur, died in a paragliding accident last Friday. Ram, the son of a family friend of Vembu, was killed when his paraglider collided with another in Kullu. The pilot was seriously injured. Vembu attended Ram’s funeral and subsequently posted on X, expressing grief and advocating for improved safety measures in adventure sports.

Vembu shares heartfelt tribute

Sridhar Vembu, 57, attended Jayesh’s funeral and later shared his thoughts on social media. In a post on X, he wrote, “Yesterday I had the very sad duty to attend the funeral of Jeyesh Ram, 27-year-old son of my dear friend Cibi Anand and Priya. He lost his life in a paragliding accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh last Friday.”



Vembu expressed sadness over the recurring accidents in adventure sports and called for better regulations. “Way too many accidents happen with sickening regularity there, and I am deeply saddened Jeyesh became the latest statistic. Much stronger regulatory oversight required here,” he stated.

A promising entrepreneur remembered

Jayesh Ram was the founder of Tools Hub, a hardware retail store franchise. Zoho had invested in the venture, which was growing rapidly. Vembu described Jayesh as a “dashing young man” who was “very kind to his employees and all those around him.”

Vembu also highlighted Jayesh’s risk-taking nature but cautioned young people against taking unnecessary risks. “He was a risk taker. So am I, but even at his age I would do a risk analysis and would have declined paragliding in Kullu as too accident-prone. I hope young people, particularly young men, avoid bad risks like this,” he wrote.

Call for action

The Zoho CEO urged regulators to investigate such incidents and enforce stricter safety measures to prevent further tragedies. The accident in Kullu, which also left the pilot severely injured, is part of a worrying trend, with similar incidents reported in other tourist destinations like Goa.

Adventure sports in India are often criticised for inadequate safety protocols and oversight, leading to avoidable accidents. Vembu’s call for action underscores the need for immediate intervention to ensure the safety of participants.

Two Tourists Die in Paragliding Accidents in HP

Two tourists died in separate paragliding accidents in Himachal Pradesh within two days. The incidents occurred in Kullu and Kangra districts.

On January 17, a Tamil Nadu tourist, 28-year-old Jayesh, died after two paragliders collided mid-air in Kullu district's Garsa Valley. The pilot, Ashwani Kumar, 27, sustained serious injuries and was transferred to a hospital in Chandigarh. Police are investigating the incident.

The following day, January 18, a 19-year-old tourist from Gujarat, Bhaveshawar Khushi, died in a paragliding accident in Dharamshala, Kangra district. The paraglider crashed shortly after takeoff from the Indrunag paragliding site. The pilot, Munish Kumar, lost balance, and both he and Khushi fell approximately 60 feet into a ditch. Khushi died from her injuries, while Kumar is recovering in a hospital in Tanda. Police have filed a case.

A police officer stated, "The accident happened in the evening around sunset. We are checking whether the administration allows flying at that hour. Any action would be taken after the completion of the inquiry."

This is the third paragliding fatality in Himachal Pradesh this month. On January 8, a tourist from Telangana died in a paragliding accident near Manali in Kullu district.

Experts attribute many paragliding accidents in the state to pilot error and inadequate regulations. Many pilots involved in fatal accidents are reportedly inexperienced.