Himachal Pradesh: Noida man falls to death while paragliding in Bir Billing

New Delhi: A major accident was reported from Himachal Pradesh’s Bir Billing, the world famous paragliding site in Kangra. Here a man from Greater Noida fell while paragliding on Tuesday. The tourist died on the spot, reported NDTV.

The deceased was identified as Shubham Dobhiyal. The Police have registered a case against the pilot. He has been booked for causing death by negligence.

Initial reports said that the safety belt probably opened or broke, which led to the accident. This speculation has raised several questions regarding the safety of paragliding in Bir Billing.

The accident happened on Tuesday evening. Reports said that Dobhiyal had come to Himachal with his sister and 3 other relatives. Even the other members of the family had taken the paragliding flight.

The pilot with whom Dhobiyal took the flight, has been identified as Vinay Kumar. Around 6 minutes into the flight, the man reportedly fell from the paraglider and landed straight into a deep forest. This forest is located near the secluded landing site, generally used for landing by paragliders.

The pilot meanwhile landed safely and a search operation was launched. Dobhiyal’s body was recovered late in the evening.

The police said that they are investigating whether the passengers safety belt broke during the flight, or did it open, causing him to fall to the ground. Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Hemraj Bairwa said that during paragliding flights, tourists completely trust the pilot and so it was important to follow safety standards.

Bir-Billing is a major paragliding destination, not only in India but also in the world. Every year, thousands of tourists come here to enjoy the thrill of paragliding. This accident has once again raised questions regarding safety protocols followed while paragliding here, the accountability of pilots and also about the safety equipment and maintenance of equipment here.