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Tourist dies in Kullu paragliding accident as sudden gust of wind disrupts glider's flight path

In October 2024, two foreign nationals lost their lives in separate paragliding crashes in Kangra district

Reported by:  PTC News Desk  Edited by:  Jasleen Kaur -- January 09th 2025 12:44 PM
Tourist dies in Kullu paragliding accident as sudden gust of wind disrupts glider's flight path

Tourist dies in Kullu paragliding accident as sudden gust of wind disrupts glider's flight path

PTC Web Desk: A tragic paragliding accident claimed the life of a tourist from Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, sparking fresh concerns about safety measures in Himachal Pradesh's adventure sports. The victim, 32-year-old Tadi Mahesh Reddy, encountered difficulties while attempting to take off at Raison, located approximately 20 km from Manali.

According to police reports, a sudden gust of wind disrupted the glider's flight path, causing it to descend instead of ascend. Reddy was initially rushed to Harihar Hospital in Bhuntar, around 22 km from the take-off point. However, as his condition worsened, he was transferred to the Medical College in Mandi, where doctors declared him dead. A postmortem examination was conducted on Wednesday.


This unfortunate incident adds to a growing list of paragliding tragedies in Himachal Pradesh. In October 2024, two foreign nationals lost their lives in separate paragliding crashes in Kangra district, just ahead of the Paragliding World Cup 2024 at Bir-Billing.

One incident involved a Belgian paraglider whose parachute malfunctioned after a mid-air collision. In another, 43-year-old solo paraglider Dita Misurcova lost control due to strong winds and crashed into the mountains near Marhi in Manali.

Himachal Pradesh, a hotspot for adventure tourism, has faced increasing scrutiny over the safety protocols of its paragliding activities. The state’s popular destinations, including Bir-Billing and Manali, have seen a surge in paragliding accidents, raising questions about equipment maintenance, pilot training, and weather assessment practices. The authorities have launched an investigation into Reddy’s accident.himacha

- With inputs from agencies

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