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US paraglider pilot stuck in Dhauladhar mountains rescued
The pilot identified as Max Kent McGowan was marooned for nearly 40 hours before being rescued by a helicopter borne rescue team around 11:45 am.
The US paraglider pilot, who got stuck on snow-covered Dhauladhar mountains overlooking Utrala in Baijnath sub-division of Kangra district was rescued on Tuesday.
The pilot identified as Max Kent McGowan was marooned for nearly 40 hours before being rescued by a helicopter borne rescue team around 11:45 am.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Santosh Patial, who holds the charge of Kangra Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), told that a local youth Rahul was para dropped at the 4200-meter peak where McGowan was stranded.
McGowan was then airlifted while Rahul stayed back as helicopter could take one person at a time.
“Rahul was airlifted by the helicopter on its second sortie,” said Patial.
The pilot has been taken to Baijnath for a medical checkup.
McGowan took off from Billing on Sunday and got stranded on the high peak after he lost his way. He made an attempt to return to Bir landing crash landed at snow-covered peak due to strong velocity winds and poor thermals.
On Monday, he informed the hotel owner, where he was staying, about his situation through radio, who informed the police.
A helicopter was sought from neighbouring state Uttrakhand for his rescue but it could not reach Baijanth due to bad weather on Monday.
