Bulgarian paraglider killed in Himachal Pradesh accident; British pilot rescued

Maxim Valentinovich Gavrilchenko, a Bulgarian national, was killed in a paragliding mishap near Khanyara-Yol in Dharamshala, Kangra district on Tuesday. The accident occurred during a tandem flight that had launched from the popular Bir-Billing paragliding site.

Authorities rescued Stephen Anthony Purdy, a 63-year-old British pilot who was accompanying Gavrilchenko during the flight. Purdy was brought to safety following the incident, though details of his condition were not immediately available.

Bir-Billing, located in the Kangra Valley, is one of Asia's highest paragliding sites and attracts adventure enthusiasts from across the globe. The area has established itself as a major hub for paragliding activities, though accidents remain a periodic concern in the sport.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Preliminary reports suggest weather conditions or equipment failure may have contributed to the mishap, though formal findings are pending.