Tragedy in the Skies: Bir Billing Mourns Loss of Veteran Pilot

Bir Billing, the world-renowned paragliding hub in Kangra, was struck by tragedy late Friday evening when an experienced pilot, Mohan Singh from Barot in Mandi district, lost his life in a tandem flight accident.

Singh had taken off with a tourist when the paraglider reportedly developed a technical fault shortly after launch, causing it to lose balance mid-air and crash near the road below the take-off point. While the tourist survived with injuries and is now out of danger, Singh suffered critical wounds. Despite immediate rescue efforts and transfer to hospitals in Baijnath and later Tanda, delays caused by traffic congestion proved fatal, and he succumbed to his injuries en route.

The accident brought traffic on the Baijnath–Palampur road to a standstill, highlighting the challenges emergency services face in the region. Local residents, fellow pilots, and rescue teams rallied quickly, but the loss has left the community shaken.

Authorities have suspended all paragliding activities at Bir Billing for a day as a mark of respect. Police investigations are underway to determine whether the crash was caused by technical failure, human error, or weather conditions.

For the adventure tourism community, the incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of strict safety checks, equipment inspections, and emergency preparedness at one of the world’s most celebrated paragliding destinations.