Bad weather grounds paragliders in Himachal Pradesh

Bir Billing (Himachal Pradesh), Oct 18 : Disappointment was writ large on the faces of 84 paragliders who thronged Himachal Pradesh to participate in the six-day-long Himalayan Paragliding Pre-World Cup Tournament.

Following snowfall in the higher reaches of the Himalayas, chilly winds, interspersed with rainfall, swept through the picturesque Bir-Billing hills, grounding the competition for the second day on Thursday.

"We told all participants that task is cancelled due to bad weather, specially the strong winds and very cloudy day," said Sanjay Pendurkar, member of the technical committee.

"It is not nice, we just have to accept it, nature is still the strongest," said Severene, a pilot from Switzerland.

For the first time, the tournament features five Pakistani pilots, participating as 'guest flyers', besides participants from over a dozen other countries.

Himachal Pradesh is one of the favourite summer destinations for both Indian and foreign tourists. Its snow-capped peaks, lush green valleys, pleasant climate and easy accessibility make it an ideal paragliding destination. By Akhilesh BharatiANI)

ANI