Dharamshala, 20 January 2025: A 19-year-old tourist from Gujarat, Bhavsar Khushi, lost her life in a paragliding accident during takeoff at the Indrunag paragliding site near Dharamshala on Saturday evening.
Khushi, who was on a tandem flight with her pilot, fell during takeoff around 5 p.m., with the pilot also sustaining injuries.
The victim was on a family trip to Dharamshala and succumbed to her injuries en route to the zonal hospital.
Kangra Additional Superintendent of Police Bir Bahadur confirmed the incident, saying, “The accident occurred under Dharamshala police station limits.
The tourist fell during takeoff, and though she was rushed to the hospital, she died on the way. An investigation has been initiated, and statements from witnesses at the site will be recorded.”
The tragedy comes just a day after a paragliding collision in Kullu claimed the life of a tourist from Tamil Nadu and severely injured their pilot. Earlier, on January 9, a tourist from Andhra Pradesh died in a crash at Raison in Manali.
Himachal Pradesh has witnessed nearly a dozen fatal paragliding incidents over the past two years, raising concerns about safety measures at these sites.
Last October, a Belgian paraglider, Patrice Feyaerts, died following a mid-air collision at Bir Billing when his reserve parachute failed to deploy.
Another fatality occurred the same year when Czech paraglider Dita Misurcova crashed into the mountains near Marhi in Manali due to strong winds.
The incidents highlight ongoing safety challenges, including a 54-year-old woman’s fatal crash in April 2024 in the Dhauladhar range after a crash landing near Thati village in Baijnath tehsil.
The recent spate of accidents has renewed focus on regulatory oversight and safety protocols in the state’s popular paragliding zones.
