Russian paraglider rescued from high-tension wires in Himachal

A Russian paraglider pilot, identified as Alexey, was rescued after getting trapped in high-tension electricity wires near Tandu in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The pilot remained suspended at a height of around 100 to 200 feet for nearly three hours before a joint rescue operation brought him to safety.

Alexey had taken off from Bir Billing earlier in the day. After becoming entangled in overhead power lines, he used his mobile phone to share photographs and his location with the Bir Billing Paragliding Association, which alerted the district administration. The rescue involved the NDRF, SDRF, NHAI and Gawar Construction Company, who deployed a crane. Power to the 33-kV line was switched off, and locals spread a tarpaulin below as a safety measure.

Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said an Indian Air Force helicopter was requisitioned as a precaution but was not needed. After the pilot was brought down, he was taken to the Zonal Hospital in Mandi for treatment. Traffic on the Mandi-Padhar highway was disrupted for about three hours during the operation.