A harrowing incident unfolded on Tuesday near Tandu on the Mandi-Padhar highway in Himachal Pradesh, where a Russian paraglider pilot found himself trapped in 33-kV high-tension electricity wires at a height of approximately 200 feet. The pilot had embarked on a flight from Bir Billing, a renowned paragliding destination around 2 pm, but lost control mid-air and became entangled in the power lines. For nearly three hours, the stranded pilot remained suspended above ground, causing concern among onlookers.
In response to the emergency, local administration and rescue teams swiftly mobilized to the site. The electricity supply was first cut off to eliminate any risk of electrocution during the operation. Gawar Construction Company's machinery was utilized to reach the pilot, with assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire services, and police department personnel. SDRF personnel from Sundernagar, particularly jawan Naveen Kumar, played a crucial role in the rescue, managing to reach the pilot at a height of nearly 200 feet and facilitating his safe descent.
After an operation spanning around three hours, the Russian national was successfully rescued and transported to the Zonal Hospital in Mandi for primary treatment and further medical care. Senior district and police officials were present at the scene to oversee rescue efforts and coordinate resources to ensure a safe outcome. The incident temporarily disrupted traffic on the Mandi-Padhar Super Highway, but police personnel managed the situation efficiently to allow rescue teams to carry out their work.