Norms flouted in Bir-Billing as paragliding continues in bad weather

Learning no lesson from the past tragedies, which had claimed many lives, paragliding operators continue to flout norms in Bir-Billing by undertaking flying activities in bad weather. There is a complete ban on paragliding activities in bad weather and poor visibility. Still, many paragliders are taking off from Billing.

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Yesterday Billing was under 30 cms of snow and the area had zero thermals (columns of rising air), still some pilots were seen taking off putting the lives of tourists at risk. Even as it rained and snowed some paragliders took off from Billing. A video recorded by a local showing the risky act of paragliding had also gone viral on social media. The paragliders were seen flying high in Bir-Billing despite a poor visibility. This is not the only instance of the paragliding operators flouting the norms. Many times operators had been seen conducting paragliding activities in the late hours to mint money by risking public safety.

The Special Area Development Authority (SADA) and Tourism Department, the two state agencies that monitor the paragliding activities in Bir-Billing, have turned a blind eye to the violations.

Bir-Billing is one of the best aero-sport sites in the world, drawing pilots from across the globe. But inadequate safety and rescue measures have raised a question mark over the viability of adventure sports activities here.

Over the past five years, 14 pilots have lost their lives in around 30 paragliding accidents, highlighting the need for strict regulations.

An aero-sport enthusiast expressed concern over the lack of world-class safety measures, which were a prerequisite for paragliding. During the International Paragliding World Cup Championship, a Belgian pilot had died following a mid-air collision, while a Polish pilot was rescued with the help of a helicopter from mountains. In the past several years, an average three pilots have died annually in accidents.

Gurpreet Dhindsa who has been flying in Bir-Billing since 1997 said, “The number of accidents has increased as foreign pilots often bypass local instructors, who are familiar with the terrain, difficult topography of Dhauladhar hill and local climatic conditions. It should be made mandatory for foreign pilots to hire local instructors, which can reduce accidents significantly.”