Shimla, Nov 1
In two consecutive days, two paragliders have lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh, just ahead of the Paragliding World Cup 2024 scheduled to start on November 2 in Bir-Billing, Kangra district. On Wednesday, a Czech paraglider, Dita Misurcova, 43, tragically died after her glider crashed into a mountainside near Marhi in Manali due to strong winds causing loss of control. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Misurcova, an experienced paraglider with six years of experience, was declared dead on arrival.
This incident follows Tuesday’s fatal crash involving Belgian paraglider Feyaret, who died in Bir-Billing after a mid-air collision with a Polish paraglider. The collision prevented Feyaret’s parachute from opening, leading to his death, while the Polish paraglider sustained injuries. Ten paragliders were reportedly airborne at the time, and the accident highlights increased risks in high-risk zones and areas with complex wind conditions.
Officials are considering measures to improve safety, including documenting thermal patterns in Bir-Billing to reduce accident risks and potentially installing crash detection towers in high mountain areas for timely responses, according to Avinash Negi, Director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in Manali.
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