Accident in the skies

The paraglider crash in the Dhauladhars of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday that tragically proved fatal for both the flying enthusiast from Kerala and his pilot is a grim reminder of the importance of ensuring adherence to safety guidelines. Only that can reduce the risk of a mishap in the adventure sport and save many a life and limb. This comes close on the heels of the deaths of a flyer each from Singapore and Australia in accidents last October in the state.  The twin tragedies had cast a dark shadow on the Open World Paragliding Cup-2018 scheduled to be held at that time in Bir Billing village of Kangra district.

It would indeed be sad if human misadventure were to come in the way of what nature has bestowed on Billing: the village has a cluster of thermals which aid paragliders gain heights and fly from one thermal pocket to another easily. With more than 50,000 aficionados, both domestic and foreign, flocking to the village every year, Bir Billing is one of the top paragliding destinations in the world. To maintain its proud spot in the global ranking, it is imperative for the state to make sure that the participants diligently practise protective measures. 

The accident also underscores the need to implement the proposal of installing radio repeaters in the valley. By enabling the pilots to remain in touch with the ground control centre and seek advice from experts, the repeaters could go a long way in preventing mishaps. A reduction in the risk involved in pursuing the thrilling activity will, in turn, attract more enthusiasts and retain the state’s standing in aero sports. Sadly, the figures of misadventure are reflective of a lackadaisical attitude. The last six months have seen 10 paragliders suffer injuries in accidents in the Kangra and Mandi areas. The importance of putting in place safety measures, such as properly functioning parachutes for the gliders soaring in the skies, cannot be stressed enough. Any laxity in this regard calls for strict deterrent action.