Himachal: Polish paraglider stuck in Kangra after mid-air collision

Himachal Pradesh: A paraglider from Poland got stuck on a hill in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district after he collided with another paraglider mid-air, officials said on Monday. Efforts are being made to rescue the paraglider, they said. Meanwhile, according to officials, an Australian paraglider participating in the Paragliding World Cup 2024 at Bir-Billing in Kangra district had to drop out of the competition after spraining his leg before take-off on Sunday. A free-flying paraglider from Poland got stuck on a hill in Kangra on Sunday after he collided with another paraglider mid-air, officials said. He is in touch with the paragliding organisers and will be rescued soon, they said. Australian paraglider David Snowden could not participate in the Paragliding World Cup 2024 due to a sprained leg. Billing Paragliding Association president Anurag Sharma told PTI, “Australian paraglider David Snowden sprained his leg before takeoff and could not fly. He was taken to hospital for X-ray and is fine now.” The eight-day Paragliding World Cup 2024 began on November 2 and 94 paragliders, including seven women, from 26 countries are participating in the event. Sharma said that as part of safety measures, two helicopters, seven health teams with ambulances and six rescue and recovery teams led by experts from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering in Manali are on standby for the event. Two foreign paragliders crashed in Himachal Pradesh last week. On Tuesday, a Belgian paraglider died after colliding with another paraglider mid-air in Bir-Billing as his parachute failed to open after the collision. On Wednesday, solo paraglider Dita Misurkova (43) crashed into the mountains near Marhi in Manali after she lost control of her glider due to strong winds.