Paragliding pilot died in a crash shortly after takeoff at Bir Billing

BIR (KANGRA): A tandem paragliding pilot crashed soon after takeoff and died at the famed Bir Billing adventure sports site on Friday. This is the third fatal paragliding accidnt this year after a Gujarati tourist died in July and a Canadian pilot was killed in October.Police identified the dead pilot as Mohan Singh, a resident of Barot, around 30km from Bir Billing. According to a colleague, pilot Partap Singh, Mohan was flying tandem with a woman tourist, who survived the crash. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the paragliding community and left tourists apprehensive.

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As a mark of respect, pilots at Bir Billing observed a complete no-flying day on Saturday. The accident raises questions over safety standards, exposes the precarious working conditions of paragliding pilots and calls for an in-depth look at whether safety SOPs are being followed.Deputy commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said multiple versions of the incident have emerged, and the Baijnath SDM is conducting an inquiry. Officials have stressed the need for strict adherence to SOPs.Authorities also stressed proper screening of passengers for fitness, weight limits, and medical conditions, noting that indemnity forms alone are insufficient.According to Partap, nearly 400 paragliders operate in the Bir Billing region, but their earnings remain uncertain and seasonal.

During peak tourist rush, a pilot may manage three to four flights a day, while during lean periods, many get only one flight a day or even in two days. A pilot gets anything between Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 per flight.Tourists are charged around 2,500-Rs 3,000 per flight. Shubham, a tourist from Delhi who arrived with friends to celebrate Christmas and New Year, said the incident shook them. They had completed one flight by the time of the accident, but are reconsidering their plan to take another.