A 25-year-old tourist from Ahmedabad in Gujarat met with an accident in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, on Monday evening. As per information available, the youth died in a paragliding crash.
The incident took place in the Indrunag area of Dharamshala, a popular tourist spot. The video of the crash has gone viral on social media.
According to Kangra’s Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Hitesh Lakhnapal, the crash happened during takeoff when the glider was unable to gain altitude. Shortly after launch, the paraglider carrying the tourist, fell to the ground. The tourist, identified as Satish Rajeshbhai, and the pilot, Suraj, both suffered injuries.
Satish sustained severe injuries to his head, face, and other body parts. He was rushed to the Zonal Hospital in Dharamshala for initial treatment. After receiving emergency care, he was transferred to Tanda Medical College where he later succumbed to his injuries. Suraj is reportedly undergoing treatment at Balaji Hospital in Kangra.
Police have confirmed that Satish’s family has been informed about the mishap. Once the post-mortem is completed, the body will be handed over to the family.
This is the second paragliding accident in Indrunag in the last six months. In January, another young tourist, 19-year-old Bhavsar Khushi from Ahmedabad, also died in a paragliding crash in the same region. Local authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident to determine whether any safety protocols were violated.
In light of these incidents, Kangra’s Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa has imposed a ban on paragliding activities in the district until September 15, pending further safety evaluations.