Sat Jan 18 18:42:14 UTC 2025: ## Two Paragliding Deaths in Himachal Pradesh in 24 Hours
**Shimla, Himachal Pradesh –** Two tourists died in separate paragliding accidents in Himachal Pradesh within 24 hours, prompting renewed concerns about safety standards in the popular adventure tourism destination.
On Saturday evening, Khushi Bhavsar, a tourist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, died after falling during a tandem paragliding takeoff near Dharamshala in Kangra district. The pilot also fell and sustained injuries, and was transported to Tanda Medical College for treatment. Police are investigating all aspects of the incident.
A day earlier, on Friday evening, a 28-year-old tourist from Tamil Nadu, identified as Jayash Ram, died after a mid-air collision near the Garsa landing site in Kullu district. The accident occurred when a paraglider performing acrobatics collided with another, causing one to fall approximately 100 feet to the ground. The pilot, Ashwani Kumar, sustained serious injuries and was transferred to PGI Chandigarh for treatment.
Police have registered a case under sections 125 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Penal Code) against the responsible parties for negligent acts endangering life and causing death by negligence, and investigations are ongoing.
This latest tragedy follows a similar incident on January 7th, where a tourist from Andhra Pradesh died paragliding near Manali. That accident led to the closure of the Naga Bagh paragliding site and the cancellation of the operator’s license due to negligence. These recent incidents highlight growing concerns regarding safety protocols within the paragliding industry in Himachal Pradesh.
First Piper 