(TAN): A paraglider from Canada was killed when his paraglider crash-landed near Bir in Kangra district of the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The Canadian pilot, Cheval Christian Yaves Mare was flying alone when the tragedy occurred. The cause of the accident is yet to be known, reported the Tribune.
According to media reports, members of the Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) and local volunteers immediately rushed to the accident spot and rescued the injured pilot, who was caught in a tree on the Bir Billing road. After first aid, the critically-injured pilot was shifted to Vivekananda Medical Research Hospital, Palampur, where doctors declared him brought dead.
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A senior government officer told the media that the deceased was identified from his passport recovered from his bag. Mare held a Canadian passport and his body had been kept in the local Civil Hospital for post-mortem. The Canadian Embassy in New Delhi has been informed about the incident.
The failure of the government to put in place a safety mechanism has made paragliding a risky affair not only in Billing, but also in other such places in the state. A Mohali-based tourist in Kullu died last year in a paragliding accident.
In 2018, Singaporean pilot Kok Chang died after his paraglider crash-landed in the Dhauladhar hills. His body was found trapped in dense forests. One Russian and another Latvian pilot, had sustained serious injuries when their gliders crashed near Jhatingri in Mandi district and in the Bundla hills of Palampur after taking off from Billing.
All the pilots involved in the recent accidents reportedly had adequate flying experience. However officials said to the media due to a sudden change in the weather accompanied by high-velocity winds, they were blown away to different directions.
Bir Billing is one of the top 10 paragliding locations in the world and right at the top in Asia, due to its altitude, required thermal currents, and the verdant green surroundings in the Himalayan foothills. The adventure sport, which is one of the most important tourist activities of Himachal Pradesh, has been suspended by the state government since March at the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
