Soaring risk: Rising paragliding deaths expose gaps in safety net

The rising number of fatal paragliding accidents in Himachal Pradesh’s premier adventure hubs—Bir-Billing, Dharamsala and Kullu-Manali—has triggered deep concerns over the regulation and safety of this high-risk sport. Just yesterday, a 25-year-old tourist from Ahmedabad lost his life in a crash at Dharamsala, leaving the pilot critically injured. This comes close on the heels of another tragic incident in which a 19-year-old woman tourist from Gujarat died after her glider crash-landed into a gorge in the same area.

Three months ago, two tourists from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were killed in Kullu and Garsa when an untrained pilot failed to execute a safe landing. Over the past six years, 30 paragliding-related deaths have been reported in Himachal, with Bir-Billing accounting for the highest fatalities. Yet, authorities have failed to implement stringent safety protocols or take corrective action.

Alarmingly, many pilots continue to take off from unregistered sites, putting tourist lives at extreme risk. A severe manpower shortage in the state’s tourism department has only made matters worse. Investigations have shown that numerous pilots involved in these mishaps were either inadequately trained, lacked proper licenses, or had insufficient flying hours. Equipment checks are rarely conducted, and the requirement for dual insurance coverage is often flouted.

Despite Himachal’s unpredictable monsoon weather—marked by low visibility and erratic thermals—paragliding operations continued throughout July. The tourism department has now imposed a temporary two-month ban, but yesterday’s fatal accident underscores the urgent need for more permanent solutions.

Veteran pilot Gurpreet Dhindsa, who has been running a paragliding school in Bir-Billing since 1997, noted that both Indian and foreign pilots unfamiliar with the treacherous Dhauladhar terrain often underestimate the volatile climatic conditions. In the absence of international-standard safety measures, Himachal’s adventure sport sector remains dangerously underregulated.

Adding to the concern, many pilots overcharge tourists or offer unsafe, low-cost flights, violating government tariffs and compromising safety. The state’s failure to regulate operators or monitor compliance has drawn widespread criticism from experts and media alike.

Without immediate and robust reforms—including mandatory certification, regular audits, licensed take-off points, and weather-based flight restrictions — tourists will continue to be at the mercy of an unregulated system. The stakes are high, not just in terms of lives lost, but also in tarnishing Himachal Pradesh’s image as a safe haven for adventure tourism.