Bulgarian paraglider killed in Himachal Pradesh crash

A 47-year-old Bulgarian national, Maksim Valentinovich Gavrilichenko, died following a paragliding accident near Rising Star Peak in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon between 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm near the Khaniyara-Yol belt above Dharamshala.

Gavrilichenko was flying with a 63-year-old British companion, Stephen Antony Purdie, after launching from the Bir Billing site. Preliminary reports suggest that strong, gusty winds may have caused the crash. While Gavrilichenko died in the accident, Purdie was located safe by rescue teams.

A large-scale search and rescue operation involving the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and local police lasted through the night. The operation concluded on Monday morning when Purdie was airlifted to safety. Police have launched an investigation to confirm the exact cause of the mishap, and Gavrilichenko’s body has been moved to the Zonal Hospital in Dharamshala for a post-mortem examination.