New Delhi, March 27
Anurag Thakur, former Union Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh, raised a matter of urgent public concern during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha today, drawing the attention of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to a growing safety crisis in air sports, particularly paragliding, across Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur highlighted the alarming frequency of accidents at world-renowned paragliding destinations such as Manali and Bir Billing, which attract thousands of enthusiasts and tourists annually. Over the past six years alone, more than 30 lives have been lost in paragliding accidents across the state, with Bir Billing recording the highest fatalities, including the deaths of nine foreign nationals. Recent tragedies include the fatal crash of a Canadian pilot near Himani Chamunda Mandir, a near-fatal accident involving an Austrian pilot at high altitude, and multiple tandem flights ending in disaster due to mid-air collisions and technical failures.
Addressing the root causes, Thakur stated that these incidents reflect a systemic pattern of weak regulations, inadequately trained pilots, poor equipment standards, unpredictable weather conditions, and a near-total absence of enforced safety protocols. He further expressed concern over the state government’s indifference, noting that Himachal Pradesh lost the opportunity to host the International Paragliding World Cup Championship this year due to the Congress-led state administration’s failure to extend any cooperation or support, depriving local communities of employment, tourism revenue, and international recognition.
Thakur presented a seven-point set of demands to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He called for the National Air Sports Guidelines 2023 (NASG 2023) to be immediately granted statutory force, with clearly defined responsibilities and penalties for non-compliance across all stakeholders including event organizers, operators, pilots, and local administrations. He further demanded the establishment of a mandatory national certification and licensing framework for paragliding, skydiving, and ballooning pilots, linked to international standards and backed by periodic recertification requirements.
On the technology front, Thakur urged the Ministry to mandate GAGAN-compatible GNSS trackers and emergency locator transmitters for all solo pilots, tandem flights, and hot-air balloons, enabling real-time tracking and faster rescue operations in challenging Himalayan terrain. He also called for real-time weather monitoring and mandatory NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) advisories for all air sports events, with operators required to suspend operations under unsafe conditions. Additionally, he requested central government funding for a National Paragliding School to produce certified instructors aligned with international standards and to restore Himachal’s capacity to host world-class competitions.
Thakur also proposed the creation of a dedicated National Air Sports Safety and Tracking Cell within the Ministry of Civil Aviation or the Airports Authority of India, tasked with real-time flight monitoring, coordination with state disaster response teams, and certification of safety equipment. He concluded by calling for mandatory independent investigations into all air sports accidents and the establishment of minimum compensation and rehabilitation protocols for injured pilots and the families of victims.
Appealing directly to the Hon’ble Minister, Thakur said, “Our youth deserve safe adventures, not avoidable risks. Let us honour the victims by turning tragedy into action.” He urged the Ministry to prioritize the matter, collaborate with states like Himachal Pradesh, and allocate resources for GAGAN integration across adventure air sports, a step he described as a potential game-changer for both public safety and sustainable adventure tourism in India.
