Experts cite prolonged monsoon, global conflicts: Paragliders give Bir-Billing hub a miss — numbers down half compared to 2024

The SADA regulates paragliding at the international Bir-Billing site, Kangra, along with Aero Sports Club (ASC) India.

Officials and paragliding experts attribute this decline to changing weather conditions, the absence of any international paragliding event this year and ongoing global conflicts.

The Baijnath Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Sankalp Sharma, told The Indian Express, “Since October 5, we have received 252 registrations, including nearly 198 from foreign nationals, for paragliding at the Bir-Billing site. Compared to last year, registrations have dropped by almost 50 per cent. Most of the foreign paragliders are from European countries. Although we hope the numbers will rise, chances appear slim. The ideal time for long paragliding flights is from October to mid-November when the weather usually remains clear, but this year’s prolonged monsoon has had an adverse impact.” Sharma also heads the local unit of Aero Sports Club, India.

International paraglider and coach Roshan Lal Thakur said, “International paragliding events always attract a rush of solo flyers from across the world. This year, no such event was held, unlike last year when the second edition of the Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA) Asian Tour 2024 took place at Bir-Billing.”

Thakur also said, “International flyers come here to gain experience and set individual records for maximum flying hours. Russian paragliders usually make up a large section of the international participants. Unfortunately, the current weather conditions and the conflict-ridden geopolitical situation in Europe and the Middle East have adversely affected the turnout this season.”

The Bir-Billing paragliding site is the only internationally recognised paragliding site in the state, besides seven other sites where paragliders are permitted to take flights. These seven sites include three in Kullu-Manali, two in Dharamshala, and one each in Shimla and Chamba.
Unlike Bir-Billing, these sites are primarily popular for tandem flights rather than independent solo flights. In paragliding, tandem flight is where an experienced pilot flies a two-seater paraglider with a passenger.

Experts note that Bir-Billing offers a strategic vantage point for exploring the panoramic views of the Dhauladhar range spread across Kangra, the Pir Panjal range in Chamba and Kullu-Manali’s snow-laden peaks.

Meanwhile, to prevent casualties and ensure smooth operations at Bir-Billing, the SADA authority has deployed a team of eight marshals under instructor Ranvijay Vardhan. “Yesterday’s death of the Canadian woman paraglider was the first tragedy of the season. The authorities have deployed four out of eight marshals at the take-off site at Billing, two at the landing site in Chogan (Bir), and two are tasked with monitoring tandem flights, which usually last 10 to 15 minutes,” he said. “Solo flyers, who are licensed by their respective countries’ aero clubs and international bodies, typically fly for three to four hours per flight.”

Last year, at least five paragliding-related deaths were reported in Himachal, four of them involving tourists. The incidents included two mid-air collisions, one crash due to strong winds and one harness failure during take-off. The accidents occurred at different locations, including Bir-Billing, Manali, and Kullu.

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