After the death of a Belgian paraglider, another tragic incident occurred in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali, where a Czech paraglider named Dita Misurcova, 43, died after crashing into a mountainside on Wednesday. This marks the second fatality in two days, just ahead of the Paragliding World Cup 2024, set to begin on November 2 in Bir-Billing, Kangra district.
Preliminary reports indicate that Misurcova lost control of her glider due to strong winds while flying near Marhi. She was quickly taken to a hospital in Manali, where she was pronounced dead. Misurcova was described as an experienced paraglider, having been involved in the sport for six years.
On Tuesday, a Belgian paraglider, Feyaret, died after a mid-air collision with another paraglider in Bir-Billing, resulting in his parachute failing to open. The accident involved ten paragliders flying simultaneously, and while Feyaret, a free-flyer in his mid-sixties, lost his life, the Polish paraglider involved sustained injuries.
According to Vinay Dhiman, the Deputy Director of Tourism in Kangra district, the risk of accidents increases when paragliders venture into areas with limited knowledge of local topography and wind conditions. He mentioned that efforts are underway to map the thermals in the Bir-Billing region with the help of experts to mitigate the likelihood of accidents.
Additionally, Avinash Negi, Director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in Manali, announced plans to install special towers in high-altitude areas to accurately locate crash sites in the event of accidents.