Paraglider lands on Kullu-Manali highway amid strong winds

Shimla: What began as a routine paragliding flight over the picturesque clear skies of Kullu for a 25-year-old pilot, turned into a high-stakes aerial adventure when powerful winds suddenly pushed the paraglider off course, forcing an emergency landing on a busy Kullu-Manali highway near Katrain on Friday evening.Paragliding pilot Rajesh Thakur, a resident of Shiliyar village near Dobhi, displayed remarkable skill and composure as he safely brought down his paraglider carrying a tourist from Kerala in his late 40s. A video of the dramatic landing quickly went viral on social media, drawing praise for the pilot's presence of mind. Carefully steering clear of overhead electricity wires, he guided the glider towards the highway near Katrain."Such emergency landings are part of this adventure sport, and earlier also there were such landings on the road in Kullu," said the pilot with five years of flying experience. Yet for those watching, it was a breathtaking display of courage and skill.The duo took off from a slope in Dobhi around 4pm and after flying for nearly 10 minutes, they were only 300-400 metres from their designated landing site near the riverside in Dobhi when strong winds unexpectedly swept in, Thakur told TOI. The distance between Dobhi and Katrain is nearly 30km. Though the weather in Dobhi appeared clear while taking off, Thakur believes changing conditions from the Mandi side triggered the sudden gusts.As the winds pushed the paraglider backward and towards the highway, Thakur assessed the situation and made a decision to attempt an emergency landing. Meanwhile, fellow pilots and support staff on the ground noticed the unfolding situation and quickly halted traffic, creating a safe landing corridor. Asked about his passenger's experience, Thakur said, "I reassured him throughout the ordeal to remain calm. Though he was naturally a little tense, he was happy as we both touched down safely."