Himachal's tragic paragliding accidents: 3 deaths in 7 days in Bir-Billing

Two paragliders (free flyers) from Russia and Poland and a trainee pilot from Luckow have lost their lives at the “free flyers” gathering in Bir-Billing.

Authorities grant permission to free flyers after careful verification of their flying experience, documents, licenses, and insurance.

While there is a standby search and rescue team in Bir-Billing, experts and local paragliders suggest enhancing search and rescue standards and pilot safety.

A paraglider recommended stationing expert paragliding instructors as guides, especially for those unfamiliar with the region's flying conditions and topography.

He also proposes that solo flying should be restricted and emphasizes the need for tracking devices, radio sets for paragliders, and live tracking for emergency situations.

Additionally, the availability of a rescue helicopter is suggested to improve response time in case of emergencies, as recent incidents highlight the importance of improving safety measures and regulations for paragliders in this popular destination.

In Europe, the maximum time allowed to initiate a rescue operation is approximately 40 minutes, whereas in India, the process may extend to as long as 24 hours. Foreign pilots who visit Kangra for paragliding typically arrive with insurance coverage.