Mountain towers proposed to spot crash sites of paragliders

Shimla: A day after three foreign paragliders were rescued after a crash landing in the mountains in Kullu district, Avinash Negi, director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, in Manali said they were working on a proposal to install special towers in high mountains to pinpoint the crash sites.
A 10-member team from the institute had safely rescued three foreign paragliders, including a woman, on Friday after they had taken a flight from Bir Billing in Kangra district and crash landed due to strong winds in the mountains of Kullu district.
Rescued paragliders included Michal Karnik and Benard Greg Collins of New Zealand and Rosie Darewood of the United Kingdom. They had to spend Thursday night in freezing temperatures in Fungani mountains behind Fozal village in Manali and could only be rescued with the help of a chopper on Friday.
As many as 130 paragliders from 50 countries are expected to participate in the ‘Paragliding World Cup 2024’ scheduled to be held in Bir Billing of Kangra district from Nov 2 to 9. The Himachal Pradesh govt is supporting the event.