Bir-Billing Paragliding Death: 4-member panel to probe Greater Noida tourist’s fatal flight

New Delhi: A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the death of 26-year-old Shubham Dobliyal from Greater Noida, who died during a tandem paragliding flight at Himachal Pradesh’s Bir-Billing earlier this week. The investigation will examine the circumstances leading to the accident and whether the pilot or the paragliding operator failed to follow safety rules.

The order was issued on Thursday by SDM (Baijnath) Sankalp Gautam, who also heads the Regulatory Aerosports Sub-Divisional Level Committee. A four-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident and submit its findings and recommendations within 14 days.

The committee will be led by Baijnath Tehsildar Raman Thakur. Bir Police Station SHO Inspector Dalip Singh, technical expert Jyoti Thakur and an inspector from the District Tourism Office in Dharamshala are also part of the team.

Probe to examine pilot’s licence and safety measures

The committee will check whether the tandem pilot had valid authorisation and a licence to operate the flight. It will also verify the registration and approval of the paragliding operator and inspect the condition, maintenance and fitness of the equipment used during the flight.

The inquiry will also look into whether the pilot and operator followed prescribed safety standards, operational guidelines and weather-related restrictions. Statements of the pilot, operator, eyewitnesses and other people connected to the incident will also be recorded.

SDM Sankalp Gautam said, “The committee has also been tasked with examining the validity of the tandem pilot’s authorisation and licence, besides verifying the registration and approval of the paragliding operator involved in the flight. It will also examine the fitness, condition and maintenance of the paragliding equipment used at the time of the accident.”

What happened during paragliding flight?

Shubham was visiting Bir-Billing with his sister and three cousins on Tuesday when he fell during a tandem paragliding flight. His sister and cousins had also taken part in paragliding activities.

His body was later recovered by rescue teams from a dense forest area in Gharari Dhar near Bir-Billing. Following a complaint by Shubham’s sister, Vanshita Dobliyal, the tandem pilot, Vinay Kumar was booked for death due to negligence.

Meanwhile, administrative sources said the victim’s family could be eligible for Rs 4 lakh in ex-gratia assistance under Himachal Pradesh’s rules for accidental deaths. They also pointed out that Shubham had signed a form acknowledging the risks involved in paragliding before taking the flight.