The pilot took off from the Billing take-off point with a tourist seated in tandem when the glider suddenly developed a technical fault mid-air

A paragliding accident at the world-famous Bir Billing paragliding site in Kangra district on Friday claimed the life of a pilot after his paraglider reportedly malfunctioned shortly after take-off, raising serious concerns over safety standards and emergency response arrangements at the popular adventure tourism destination.

According to Anurag Sharma, president of the Bir Billing Paragliding Association, the pilot took off from the Billing take-off point with a tourist seated in tandem when the glider suddenly developed a technical fault mid-air. This caused the paraglider to lose balance and crash near the road below the take-off site, leaving the pilot critically injured. The tourist accompanying him also sustained injuries though his condition is stated to be stable.

The deceased pilot has been identified as Mohan Singh, a resident of Barot in Mandi district, who was considered an experienced flyer and had been associated with paragliding operations in the region for several years.

Local residents, fellow pilots and rescue workers rushed to the spot and immediately shifted both the injured pilot and the tourist to the Civil Hospital at Baijnath. Due to the critical nature of Mohan Singh’s injuries, doctors referred him to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, for advanced treatment. However, the ambulance carrying him was caught in a traffic jam in Baijnath, delaying the transfer by nearly an hour. Mohan Singh succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The traffic congestion following the accident led to disruption on the Baijnath–Palampur road for about an hour.

Confirming the incident, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Baijnath Sankalp Gautam said the administration had received information about the accident soon after take-off and that the tourist flying with the pilot was out of danger. “The matter is being looked into and all necessary procedures are being followed,” he said.