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Himachal: Magisterial probe marked into Billing paragliding accident
Baijnath subdivisional magistrate will conduct the inquiry and submit the report within a week, Kangra deputy commissioner Nipun Jindal said on Wednesday
Kangra deputy commissioner has ordered a magisterial probe into the paraglider accident that left two persons dead and one injured in Bir-Billing on Tuesday.
The mishap has also brought spotlight back on the safety of pilots and tourists.
Baijnath subdivisional magistrate will conduct the inquiry and submit its report within a week, Kangra deputy commissioner Nipun Jindal said on Wednesday.
The accident had claimed lives of Akash Aggarwal, a 31-year-old tourist from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, and Rakesh Kumar, 29, a resident of Bir village, who was assisting the pilot in taking off.
Prima facie, Kumar got entangled in a harness due to which the pilot lost control. Aggarwal and Kumar had died on the spot after falling from a height of about 30ft, while pilot Vikas Kapoor sustained serious injuries when the glider crash-landed.
Jindal, who also convened a meeting with Kangra superintendent of police (SP) Khushal Chand Sharma to regulate the adventure activities, said the recent incidents have put a question mark not only on the safety, but also the credibility of Bir-Billing paragliding site.
He said that certain directions were given to all stakeholders in a meeting of district aero sports regulatory committee in February this year and the compliance report of the same has been sought.
“A police investigation is also underway. Further action will be taken on the basis of findings and recommendation of the magisterial probe,” he added.
More than two dozen crashes witnessed in HP five years
In the last five years, over two dozen paraglider crashes have occurred in Bir-Billing, Dharamshala, Mandi and Manali in which at least 12 people, including tourists and foreign nationals, have been killed.
Most of the crashes have taken place at Bir-Billing, which is considered world’s second best and Asia’s best paragliding site.
On November 21, a 30-year-old man from Kangra had died after falling during a tandem flight at Bir village of Baijnath.
Earlier, a 35-year-old man, who was assisting a pilot while taking off, fell to his death after being stuck in the paraglider at Dharamshala.
Sources say that Himachal Pradesh Aero Sports Rules don’t conform to the guidelines of international bodies, such as the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale or World Air Sports Federation. Also, the state authorities lack experts with technical know-how of paragliding.
According to international regulations, one who flies a paraglider is a pilot and levels have been defined from P1 to P5 based on experience, after whom come trainee instructors, instructors, senior instructors, sports tandem pilots and commercial pilots. Certain flying hours are fixed for each level. In Himachal, the licence for tandem flight is granted without the pilot having passed these levels or sometimes even without the licence for a solo flight. Flying experience is also not considered.
