Australian NRI Dies While Paragliding in Himachal Pradesh

An Australian man of Indian origin, who was paragliding in Mandi in Himachal Pradesh died after a crash. His body was found six hours after he went missing.

According to reports, Sanjay KR Devarkonda, went missing after he took off from Bir Billing paragliding site on Oct. 24 and a rescue operation was launched soon after to find him.

NDTV said his body was found near Joginder Nagar area six hours later.

Sub-divisional magistrate Vikas Shukla said Devarkonda may have lost control of his paraglider, Hindustan Times reported. Authorities have informed the Australian embassy of his death, the newspaper said.

News portal Scroll said the incident follows the death of Singaporean paraglider Kok Choonk Na, who was found dead in Himachal Pradesh’s Dhauladhar mountains on October 23. The 53-year-old had taken off from Bir Billing on Oct. 20 and was in the state to participate in the Paragliding World Cup Championship being organized from October 27.

On Oct. 24, authorities rescued Spanish paraglider Jose Lewis, who had gone missing four days earlier from Palampur. Lewis had also taken off from Bir Billing on October 20. Two other paragliders, identified as a Russian and a Latvian, sustained injuries during mishaps after taking off last week, Scroll reported the Hindustan Times as saying.

Paragliders from around the world have come to Himachal Pradesh to attend the event to be held in Bir Billing from October 27. Over 160 paragliders are expected to participate in the event, Scroll said.