A major tragedy was averted in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district after a Russian paraglider got trapped in high-tension wires nearly 100 metres above the ground. After an intense three-hour crane-assisted operation by SDRF, NDRF and NHAI, the pilot, identified as Alexey, was rescued safely. The incident took place near Tandu in Mandi on Monday afternoon, when the paraglider got entangled in overhead power lines during a flight.
Alexey had taken off from Bir Billing, the world-famous paragliding site in Kangra district, earlier in the day. During the flight, he somehow got caught in the high-voltage wires, leaving him suspended several metres above the ground.
Following the incident, the pilot reportedly used his mobile phone to share photographs and his location with the Bir Billing Paragliding Association. The information was subsequently passed on to the Mandi district administration, which launched rescue efforts.
The association subsequently informed the Mandi district administration, which launched an immediate rescue operation. After nearly three hours of intensive efforts, the Russian pilot was safely brought down.
Speaking to NDTV, Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said the administration received information in the afternoon that a paraglider was stranded on high-tension wires near Tandu. Given the complexity of the operation, cranes and other resources were deployed immediately. Assistance was also sought from the Indian Air Force.
However, the pilot was rescued with the help of a crane before any aerial assistance was required.
The operation was carried out jointly by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Gawar Construction Company, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Their coordinated efforts ensured that the pilot was rescued safely.
