In a tragic incident, Canadian paraglider Megan Elizabeth, aged 27, was found dead on October 20 after her glider crashed in the snow-covered heights of the Dhauladhar mountains near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. She had taken off from the famous Bir-Billing paragliding site on October 18 but lost contact soon after flying over the Triund area. The discovery has once again drawn attention to the increasing risks faced by adventure sports enthusiasts in the Himalayan region.

Body Recovered After Intensive Search

A massive rescue operation was launched soon after reports of her disappearance surfaced. The operation involved the Indian Institute of Mountaineering, Dehradun, local climbers, and volunteers from the Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA). After two days of difficult search efforts in freezing temperatures and rough mountainous terrain, her body was located at an altitude of around 3,900 metres above sea level.

Officials said one of the rescuers was dropped by helicopter into the high-altitude region of the Dhauladhar mountains to confirm the site. A short video recorded during the mission showed the challenging conditions faced by the rescue team. Megan was found lying in deep snow, having succumbed to severe cold and the injuries caused by a crash landing on rocks.

Her body was lifted by helicopter and brought down to Dharamshala for post-mortem examination at Tanda Medical College in Kangra district. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bir Bahadur told ANI that her body was formally handed over to her friends after the completion of all legal formalities and later cremated on October 21. The concerned embassy and her family were informed immediately after recovery.

Police Confirm Accidental Death

Speaking about the incident, ASP Bir Bahadur said that the paragliding site at Billing falls under the jurisdiction of Police Station Bir. He explained, “The Canadian paraglider had taken off from Bir-Billing on October 18. While crossing over the Triund area in the Dhauladhar range above Dharamshala, her paraglider crashed. Her body was lifted by helicopter on the 20th, and after a post-mortem at Tanda Medical College, it was handed over to her friends. The embassy and her family were informed. It was an accidental death, and all necessary legal proceedings are being carried out.”

Officials believe strong winds and unpredictable air currents at high altitude may have contributed to the accident. Authorities have reminded travellers that despite the stunning views, the Dhauladhar range remains treacherous due to sudden weather changes, steep ridges, and limited communication access.

Mountain Range Witnesses Series of Accidents

The Dhauladhar mountains have seen a series of incidents involving foreign nationals in recent months, reflecting the growing hazards associated with high-altitude adventure activities. Earlier this year, on June 15, an Israeli trekker, 44-year-old Samuel Vengrinovich, who had gone missing near the snow line above Dharamshala, was found seriously injured after a week-long search operation. He was rescued and shifted to Tanda Hospital for treatment.

Additional Superintendent of Police Hitesh Lakhanpal told ANI, “The missing Israeli national has been found and is seriously injured. He is being moved to Tanda Hospital for medical treatment.” According to police reports, Vengrinovich had set out alone towards a glacier close to the Indrahar Pass trail, a popular high-altitude trekking route in Himachal Pradesh, when he went missing on June 6.

The District Disaster Management Authority was alerted about the missing trekker on June 9, after which multiple search teams including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local trekkers, and volunteers were deployed. Despite difficult weather conditions and low visibility affecting the operation, drones and coordinated tracking were used to trace his location.

ASP Lakhanpal said, “Because of inclement weather, the search became a little difficult, but we used drones and tried to identify the possible route he had taken. Despite several days of effort, the operation was challenging.” The rescue eventually succeeded through joint effort by district officials, local trekking groups, the Israeli rescue team, and friends of the missing traveller.

The two incidents have prompted calls for stricter safety norms and real-time tracking systems for paragliding and trekking expeditions in Himachal’s mountainous zones. Authorities are now expected to conduct detailed safety reviews ahead of the coming winter adventure season.

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