Another paraglider dies in HP, raising safety concerns

A 42-year-old paraglider from the Czech Republic was killed in a crash near Marhi, located midway between Manali and Rohtang Pass, on Wednesday.

The mishap took place when the solo paraglider, Misurcova Dita, lost control over the glider. She was rushed to Mission Hospital, Manali, where she was declared dead by the medical officer concerned.

She was an avid paraglider and had come along with a group of foreign paragliders to practise for the Paragliding World Cup, 2024, commencing tomorrow at Bir-Billing in Kangra district.

The paragliding site at Marhi has been approved by the Tourism Department. This was the first casualty at the site where the entire flight is just about five minutes. The police said inquest proceedings were being conducted under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and, prima facie, there was no evidence of any foul play.

Two paragliders have died in the state ahead of the World Cup. A Belgian paraglider was killed in Bir-Billing on Tuesday in a mid-air collision with another paraglider.

Yesterday, a Russian paraglider made an emergency landing at an orchard near Bhutti village in the Lug valley area of Kullu.

The paraglider had taken off from Manali, but due

to unfavourable weather, he had to make an emergency landing. Earlier on October 25, three foreign paragliders, who took off from Bir-Billing the previous day, were rescued through a helicopter after they got stranded in the higher reaches of the Lug valley and the Fozal area of Kullu.