In a tragic turn of events, the serene landscape of Manali has been marred by paragliding accidents, claiming the life of a second foreign national within 48 hours. Dita Misurcova, a 43-year-old solo paraglider from the Czech Republic, lost her life after crashing into a mountainside near Marhi due to strong winds. This incident follows the death of a Belgian paraglider just a day earlier, heightening concerns as the Paragliding World Cup 2024 approaches, set to begin on November 2 in Bir-Billing, known for its breathtaking paragliding conditions.
Reports indicate that Misurcova, an experienced paraglider with six years in the sport, was caught in adverse weather conditions that led to her losing control of her paraglider. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The previous day, a Belgian paraglider, identified as Feyaret, tragically died after colliding mid-air with another paraglider in Bir-Billing. The collision caused his parachute to fail, resulting in a fatal descent. At the time of the incident, ten paragliders were in the air, underscoring the risks involved in the sport.
Additionally, on Monday, a Russian national, Aleksei Kozlochkov, was found dead in his hotel room in Bir, with preliminary reports suggesting a heart attack as the cause.
Kangra district’s deputy director of tourism, Vinay Dhiman, emphasized the heightened risk associated with paragliding in high-risk zones and inner valleys, particularly for those unfamiliar with the local topography and wind conditions. He noted, “We are in the process of documenting the thermals in the Bir-Billing area with the help of experts to reduce the probability of accidents while flying.”
This recent series of incidents adds to the alarming trend in paragliding safety, as only months earlier, three other paragliders—two Russians and an Indian—lost their lives in similar accidents.
As the World Cup draws near, officials and enthusiasts alike are calling for increased safety measures to protect participants and minimize risks during the competition, which will see participation from 130 paragliders across 50 nations.
Sources By Agencies
