Tragic Paragliding Accident: 19-Year-Old Girl Dies Due to Safety Violations, Pilot Injured

Dharamshala (The Uttam Hindu): tragic incident occurred on Saturday when a 19-year-old girl from Gujarat died during a paragliding accident at the Indru Nag site in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The pilot accompanying her sustained injuries in the mishap. Preliminary police investigations have revealed several safety violations at the takeoff site, raising serious concerns regarding the adherence to safety regulations. The investigation has uncovered troubling details regarding the lack of proper safety measures at the paragliding site. Reports indicate that the flight took place after sunset, in clear violation of safety guidelines. Despite being advised against it by the site marshal the victim insisted on going ahead with the paragliding, citing poor visibility due to the late hour.

The area where the pilot and the victim fell had uneven terrain which was poorly covered with empty cement sacks and tarpaulin. Additionally, the safety railings and poles at the site were found to be in a dilapidated condition. According to safety regulations, paragliding activities should stop at least one hour before sunset to ensure safety. However, the victim's flight took off at 5:55 pm, breaking this rule. Furthermore, the absence of an Aero Sports Officer at the site further compromised safety oversight. Following the incident, the local administration came under criticism for its delayed response. Senior officials failed to visit the victim's family on the night of the accident. While the victim's body was handed over after a post-mortem, no FIR was filed and the paragliding equipment was not inspected until late Monday evening. The pilot involved, Munish Kumar, held a license issued on February 24, 2022. However, the license lacked a validity date and the pilot’s signature, casting doubt on its authenticity.

A joint report submitted by marshals Deshraj, Abhishek and Kamaljit revealed key lapses during the flight. According to Deshraj and Abhishek the victim failed to lift her legs during the second takeoff attempt causing the pilot to lose balance and crash. Paragliding accidents have become increasingly common in Himachal Pradesh with popular sites in Shimla, Kullu and Kangra attracting adventurers from across the globe. Just four days prior, a 28-year-old tourist from Tamil Nadu died at the Garsa landing site in Kullu. Three months ago, a Belgian pilot tragically passed away when his glider crashed at the Paragliding World Cup event in Bir Billing, Kangra. The SHO of Dharamshala stated that no formal complaint has been received, which is why an FIR has not been registered yet. The Dharamshala Regulating Authority Chairman and SDM confirmed that marshals were stationed at the site as per High Court orders. However, the victim's insistence on flying is believed to have contributed to the unfortunate incident.