Tragedy in the Skies: Bulgarian Dies, Briton Rescued in Dharamshala Paragliding Crash
A Bulgarian tourist died and a British citizen was rescued after a paragliding mishap near Rising Star Peak in Dharamshala due to strong winds.
A thrilling adventure turned into a nightmare in the hills of Himachal Pradesh when a paragliding mishap in Dharamshala claimed the life of a Bulgarian national and left his British companion stranded in the rugged terrain. The accident, triggered by sudden and violent weather conditions, sparked a high-stakes overnight rescue operation in one of India's most popular adventure hubs.
The Fatal Descent
The incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon near the Rising Star Peak in Khaniyara. Two experienced flyers, Maksim Valentinovich Gavrilichenko, a 47-year-old from Bulgaria, and Stephen Antony Purdie, a 63-year-old British citizen, had taken off for solo flights from the renowned Bir-Billing paragliding site.
While the flights began normally, the duo encountered dangerously high wind speeds. Between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM on October 25, reports reached the authorities that both paragliders had crashed in the vicinity of Rising Star Peak, leaving them stranded in a remote and treacherous area.
A Race Against Time: The Rescue Mission
As soon as the distress calls were received, the district administration and local police mobilized a massive joint rescue operation. The mission was a coordinated effort involving several specialized units:
- The local police force.
- The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
- The Him Sanchar Rescue Team, consisting of expert local mountaineers.
The rescue teams began their ascent toward the crash site at approximately 9:00 PM on Sunday, battling the darkness and difficult terrain of the Khaniyara region. The operation continued throughout the night, with rescuers pushing through the wilderness to locate the two foreigners.
The Aftermath
The grueling search concluded around 10:00 AM on Monday, October 26. While the teams managed to find Stephen Antony Purdie safe and sound—reporting no injuries—the outcome for the Bulgarian national was tragic. Maksim Valentinovich Gavrilichenko was found dead at the site.
Records indicate that Gavrilichenko had entered India on a tourist visa on October 7, seeking to explore the country's landscapes before the fatal accident occurred.
Official Response
The body of the deceased has been moved to the Zonal Hospital mortuary in Dharamshala for a post-mortem examination. Local authorities are currently completing the necessary legal formalities.
"Further details and the exact circumstances surrounding the crash are being ascertained," stated Kangra Superintendent of Police (SP) Kulbhushan Verma while confirming the incident.