Munish Sood
MANDI:
A paragliding accident at the internationally renowned Bir Billing site in Kangra district claimed the life of an experienced pilot late Friday evening, prompting authorities and operators to suspend all paragliding activities for a day as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
According to officials of the Bir Billing Paragliding Association, the pilot had taken off from the Billing launch point with a tourist on a tandem flight when the paraglider reportedly developed a technical malfunction shortly after take-off. The glider lost balance mid-air and crashed near the road below the take-off point.
The pilot, identified as Mohan Singh, a resident of Barot in Mandi district, suffered critical injuries in the crash. The tourist flying with him also sustained injuries but is reported to be out of danger.
Local residents, fellow pilots and rescue teams rushed to the accident site and immediately shifted both the injured to the Civil Hospital in Baijnath. Due to the seriousness of Mohan Singh’s condition, doctors referred him to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital, Tanda, for advanced treatment.
However, the ambulance carrying the injured pilot was caught in a severe traffic jam in Baijnath, resulting in a delay of nearly an hour. Singh succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital.
The accident also led to heavy traffic congestion on the Baijnath-Palampur road for about an hour, with long queues of vehicles reported as emergency services struggled to navigate through the crowded stretch.
Confirming the incident, Baijnath Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sankalp Gautam said the administration received information soon after the crash and that the tourist involved was safe. He added that the matter was being looked into and all necessary procedures were being followed.
The police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident, including whether it resulted from a technical fault, human error or weather-related factors. Statements of witnesses, paragliding operators and association members are being recorded, and the equipment involved may be examined by technical experts.
As a mark of respect and to pay tribute to the departed pilot, all paragliding activities at Bir Billing were suspended for the day, officials of the paragliding association said.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns over safety protocols, equipment inspections and emergency preparedness at Bir Billing, one of the world’s most popular paragliding destinations that attracts thousands of adventure tourists every year.
