Himachal: Ready to host pre-paragliding world cup championship

Himachal Pradesh: The stage is set for the Pre-Paragliding World Cup Championship, which will be held in Billing from November 4 to November 10. With over 300 foreign and domestic pilots expected to participate, the event will be a significant boost for the state’s tourism sector. The Bir-Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) has already begun preparations and its president Anurag Sharma has confirmed that the state government is extending full support to the event. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has assured full cooperation from various departments. The state tourism department is also partnering with the BPA to run the championship smoothly. So far, 160 pilots, including 10 women, have registered for the competition, and more are expected to join.

Baijnath MLA Kishori Lal recently convened a meeting with all stakeholders, urging them to provide full support to the BPA. There is already an atmosphere of excitement in Bir-Billing, located 40 km from Baijnath, as more than 50 pilots from India and abroad have started practising for the event. The authorities are stressing on safety measures for the event. Baijnath DSP Anil Sharma has confirmed that steps are being taken to educate the pilots about safety guidelines and the challenging topography of the Dhauladhar hills. Several paragliding accidents have occurred in the past due to sudden weather changes and difficult terrain in the region. The organisers have been directed to issue necessary safety instructions to all the participants to avoid such incidents. The paragliding championship is expected to attract worldwide attention to Bir-Billing, which is considered one of the top paragliding destinations in the world. Gokul Butail, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information Technology and Innovation, highlighted that the event will not only boost local tourism but will also contribute to Kangra’s reputation as the emerging tourism capital of the state.