In Bir-Billing, Himachal Pradesh, a Belgian paraglider died after colliding with another paraglider in mid-air when his parachute did not open. The accident occurred on Tuesday, four days before the Paragliding World Cup 2024, scheduled to begin on November 2, in Bir-Billing in Kangra district.
Officials said the two paragliders collided in mid-air, resulting in the death of Ferrets, a resident of Belgium, while the other paraglider from Poland sustained injuries. He told that the ferrets were about 60 years old and were free-flying paragliders.
10 paragliders flew together
Kangra Tourism Deputy Director Vinay Dhiman said that 10 paragliders were flying together and two of them collided with each other in the air. He told that the ferrets died because their parachute did not open after the accident.
Vinay Dhiman said the risk of accidents increases when fliers enter high-risk areas or interior valleys with little knowledge of the topography and local air conditions.
A Polish paraglider died a year ago
Vinay Dhiman said that we are in the process of documenting the temperature in the Bir-Billing area with the help of experts to reduce the chances of accidents during flight. This is not the first time that such incidents have happened in Bir-Billing valley. In October last year, Polish paraglider Andrzej died while paragliding in Bir-Billing.
What did Kangra SP Shalini Agnihotri say?
Kangra Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri said police have directed officials to register paragliders, follow specified routes and ensure that they do not fly over military areas.
Paragliding World Cup will be held from November 2
Avinash Negi, director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) in Manali, said that in view of the accidents, a proposal to install special towers on high mountains to mark the accident sites is under consideration. 130 paragliders from 50 countries will participate in the World Cup to be held here from November 2 to 9.
