Himachal Pradesh: Paragliding accident kills tourist in Bir Billing

SHIMLA: A man from Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district died after falling from a paraglider during a tandem flight in Bir Billing area on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Sandeep Chaudhary (30) from Mumta village in Kangra’s Nagrota Bagwan.
Police have registered a case and taken possession of the body. In the last five years, over two dozen paragliders have crashed at various places in Kangra and Mandi districts after taking off from Billing and 10 pilots, including foreigners, have died.
Sandeep had come to Bir Billing along with his friends and decided to experience paragliding.
Safety harness came loose minutes after take off
He fell on the roof of a house near Bir from a height of about 150ft after the belt and harness allegedly came loose minutes after takeoff.
On October 16, a paragliding pilot’s helper had died after getting entangled in ropes while helping during takeoff at Kangra’s Indrunag site.
His entangled frame hit the ground from a height, killing him on the spot. Earlier, in January this year, a paraglider pilot had gone missing after taking off from Billing area in Kangra’s Baijanth sub-division. His body was found five months later, in May end, from the Dhauladhar range.