Himachal: Poland paraglider pilot safe, will be rescued today

Himachal Pradesh: Poland’s paraglider pilot Babinski, who crashed yesterday in the high hills of Dhauladhar range near Himani Chamunda Temple north of Dharamshala, could not be rescued for the second day today as the helicopter could not land at the accident site. However, the pilot is said to be safe. Anurag Sharma, president of Bir Billing Paragliding Association, said that repeated attempts made by the helicopter pilot to rescue Babinski from the accident site were not successful. The rescue operation has been postponed for tomorrow. However, a team of volunteers from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Manali, sent by the district administration, has reached the spot. The volunteers pulled the pilot out of the ravine and took him to a place on the hilltop where the helicopter could land. He said that the paraglider pilot had crashed in a ravine between two mountains, where the rescue team faced obstacles and could not reach him. He said that due to sunset and bad weather, helicopters could not be sent to the place where Babinski and the rescue team were camping. He will be rescued tomorrow. Babinski was a free flyer who was not participating in the Paragliding World Cup Championship. He had minor injuries. The rescue team had a first aid kit and gave him medical aid. He will be taken to Vivekanand Hospital Palampur for medical treatment. Two paraglider pilots lost their lives in Bir Billing and Manali in the last one week. Both were foreigners.