A tragic sequence of events has cast a shadow over the popular paragliding destination of Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh. For the second time within a week, the adventure sports community is mourning the loss of a life, following the death of a young pilot's assistant.
A Fatal Fall at the Take-Off Site
Sunil Kumar, a 26-year-old resident of Bir, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. The incident that led to his death occurred on December 28. According to Suresh Thakur, founder of the Billing Paragliding Association (BPA), Sunil fell from the take-off site in Bir Billing of Kangra district while assisting his pilot during launch. He sustained serious injuries from the fall.
Emergency medical response was initiated immediately. He was first rushed to a nearby government hospital. Given the severity of his condition, the doctors there referred him to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh for advanced treatment. Despite efforts, he could not be saved.
A Community in Shock and a Pattern of Concern
Suresh Thakur expressed the community's grief, noting that while such accidents are rare, they do occur. He revealed that Sunil Kumar had worked as a pilot's assistant in Billing for over five years, making him an experienced hand in the field. His death follows another fatal accident just two days prior.
On December 26, a tandem paragliding pilot, 35-year-old Mohan Singh from Barot in Mandi district, crashed shortly after taking off from Billing. He also later died from his injuries. These back-to-back tragedies have highlighted safety concerns, bringing the total number of paragliding-related fatalities in Kullu and Kangra districts this year to at least seven.
Operations Suspended Indefinitely
In response to the grim events, paragliding activities in Bir Billing remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday. The suspension was initially called on December 27 as a mark of respect for the deceased pilot, Mohan Singh.
The halt in operations continues as the tight-knit community processes the loss. "Paragliding is still to be resumed, as most pilots are still in a state of shock over their colleague's death," stated Thakur. He added that the association plans to hold a meeting in the next day or two to discuss the way forward. A decision on resuming paragliding in Bir Billing will be taken only after this meeting.
The consecutive accidents have sparked a period of introspection for pilots and operators at one of the world's premier paragliding sites, raising urgent questions about safety protocols and risk mitigation during assisted take-offs.
