A 48-year-old Russian paraglider was rescued safely on Tuesday, November 10, after his paraglider became entangled in a high-tension electricity transmission line near Tandu in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, leaving him suspended in the air for about three hours.

Source: The Eagle News

The pilot, identified in rescue reports as Aleksei Ivakhin, had taken off solo from the Bir Billing paragliding site in Kangra district on Tuesday morning. The emergency call was received in the afternoon, and a team of seven Home Guards personnel was among the first to be mobilised.

Source: The Eagle News

The rescue was carried out jointly by the Home Guards, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire Services teams from Mandi and Padhar. The pilot was brought down with the help of a specialised bucket crane, and the operation concluded at about 4:45 pm without any major injuries.

Source: The Eagle News

Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said rescue teams were deployed as soon as the information was received and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate was rushed to the spot. He said the district administration had also sought help from the Indian Air Force and a helicopter had reached for the rescue operation, and that the electricity supply was snapped to protect the pilot.

Source: Himachal Guardian

The pilot was provided medical help after the rescue and his condition was stated to be stable. Bir Billing, in Kangra district, is one of the world's best-known paragliding sites and draws large numbers of Indian and foreign pilots every season.

Source: Himachal Guardian