Bir: A tragic paragliding mishap at Himachal Pradesh’s renowned Bir Billing site claimed the life of a pilot on Friday, while the tourist flying with him escaped with injuries, officials confirmed. The incident occurred shortly after take-off, renewing questions over safety oversight at one of India’s busiest adventure sports hubs.
According to local paragliding authorities, the tandem flight took off from the Billing launch point when the glider reportedly developed a mechanical problem mid-air. Witnesses said the aircraft became unstable within moments and descended rapidly before crashing near a roadside below the take-off area.
The pilot, identified as Mohan Singh from Barot in Mandi district, suffered critical injuries. Singh was known in the paragliding community as an experienced flyer who had been operating in the region for several years. The tourist accompanying him also sustained injuries but is reported to be in stable condition and out of danger.
People from nearby areas, along with fellow pilots and rescue volunteers, rushed to the site and helped transport both injured persons to the Civil Hospital in Baijnath. Due to the severity of Singh’s condition, doctors referred him to the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda. However, heavy traffic congestion in Baijnath delayed the ambulance, and Singh succumbed to his injuries before reaching the tertiary care facility. The accident caused traffic disruption on the Baijnath–Palampur stretch for nearly an hour.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Baijnath Sankalp Gautam said the administration was informed immediately after the crash and confirmed that the tourist was safe. He added that standard procedures were being followed and the matter was under official review.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident. Officials said they are examining whether equipment failure, operational lapses or environmental factors contributed to the crash. Statements from eyewitnesses, paragliding operators and association members are being recorded, and the glider involved may undergo technical inspection.
The incident has once again drawn attention to safety checks, maintenance of equipment and emergency response readiness at Bir Billing, an internationally recognised paragliding destination that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Authorities said further action would depend on the findings of the ongoing probe.
