Three Fatal Paragliding Accidents in India Raise Safety Concerns

Recent crashes in Himachal Pradesh and Goa highlight regulatory lapses and safety violations in adventure sports.

A 19-year-old woman from Gujarat and her pilot were involved in a fatal paragliding accident in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, with the victim dying at the scene and the pilot sustaining injuries.
The accident occurred after the paraglider's canopy collapsed during takeoff, and authorities are investigating potential violations of safety regulations, as paragliding was permitted only until 5 pm.
In a separate incident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, a tourist from Tamil Nadu died after two paragliders collided mid-air, leaving the pilot severely injured.
In Goa, a 27-year-old tourist and her Nepalese instructor were killed in an unauthorised paragliding operation at Keri plateau, prompting legal action against the operator.
Nearly a dozen paragliding fatalities have been reported in Himachal Pradesh over the past two years, raising questions about the enforcement of safety measures in adventure sports.