State gears up to host Pre-Paragliding World Cup Championship at Billing

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, Updated At : 10:10 AM Oct 14, 2024 IST

Over 300 pilots are expected to participate in event, scheduled to be held from November 4 to 10. FILE

The stage is set for the Pre-Paragliding World Cup Championship, scheduled to take place in Billing from November 4 to November 10. With over 300 foreign and domestic pilots expected to participate, the event promises to be a significant boost for the state’s tourism sector. The Bir-Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) has already started preparations with its president Anurag Sharma confirming that the state government is fully supporting the event.

Safety a priority
Authorities are emphasising safety measures for the event, with DSP Baijnath, Anil Sharma, confirming that steps are being taken to educate pilots about safety guidelines and the challenging topography of the Dhauladhar hills
The area has seen several paragliding mishaps in the past due to sudden weather changes and difficult terrain
Organisers have been directed to issue necessary safety instructions to all participants to avoid
such incidents

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured full cooperation from various departments. The state Tourism Department is also partnering with BPA to ensure the championship runs smoothly. So far, 160 pilots, including 10 women, have registered for the competition, with more expected to join.

Kishori Lal, Baijnath MLA, recently convened a meeting with all stakeholders, urging them to provide full assistance to BPA. Located 40 km from Baijnath, Bir-Billing is already buzzing with excitement as over 50 pilots from India and abroad have begun practising for the event.

Authorities are emphasising safety measures for the event, with DSP Baijnath, Anil Sharma, confirming that steps are being taken to educate pilots about safety guidelines and the challenging topography of the Dhauladhar hills. The area has seen several paragliding mishaps in the past due to sudden weather changes and difficult terrain. Organisers have been directed to issue necessary safety instructions to all participants to avoid such incidents.

The paragliding championship is expected to bring global attention to Bir-Billing, recognised as one of the top paragliding sites in the world. Gokul Butail, Principal Adviser for Information Technology and Innovation to the Chief Minister, highlighted that this event would not only boost local tourism but also contribute to Kangra’s reputation as the state’s emerging tourism capital.