Controversy erupts as paragliding pilot takes off carrying electric scooty in Himachal’s Bilaspur, questions over safety
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TNR Desk
DHARAMSHALA: The blue skies over Bandla in Bilaspur town of Himachal Pradesh witnessed an unusual scene as a pilot from Punjab flouted regulations and embarked on an audacious paragliding adventure carrying an electric scooty along.
Harsh’s daring act on Thursday (December 16, 2023) has prompted a series of questions directed at the district administration, raising concerns about safety and adherence to regulations.
Harsh took off from Bandla Dhar without obtaining prior approval from the administration, raising a question mark over safety arrangements. The Bandla paragliding site, after facing significant hurdles, had recently secured technical approval, but the unauthorised incident could jeopardise the future of the site.
The possibility of the site’s closure looms large, especially considering the previous accidents that have occurred in other paragliding sites in Dharamshala and Bir Billing, resulting in unfortunate fatalities. The Aero Club of India mandates obtaining permission from local administrations for paragliding at any approved site in the country, leading to varying opinions within paragliding associations.
While some assert the necessity of permission, others argue otherwise. The administration has taken serious note of the unauthorised paragliding with a scooter, prompting them to summon the local association for discussions on possible actions in accordance with the rules.
A member of the Bilaspur Paragliding Association emphasised that flying without permission is a clear violation of rules. The association plans to request the district administration to take appropriate action against the paraglider pilot and those responsible for permitting the flight without due approval.
The district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq, has initiated an investigation, emphasising that no permission had been sought for the unauthorised flight. The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur has been instructed to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.
