Shimla, Oct 31 (IANS) The organisers of a major paragliding event in Himachal Pradesh Saturday called off the event that was to begin Nov 4 citing “non cooperation” by the state government.
The Billing Paragliding Association has called off the Himalayan Paragliding Open 2009 to be held in Kangra district.

“We have decided to cancel the Himalayan Paragliding Open 2009 that was to start Nov 4. The decision in this regard was taken following the non-cooperation of the state government in holding the event,” paragliding association president Suresh Thakur told IANS over the phone.

The event was to be held at Billing, about 80 km from the district headquarters town of Kangra.

He said the association had received about 140 entries for the event, most of them from abroad.

“Our objective (to hold the event) was just to promote adventure tourism in the state. Since the government was not serious, we too decided to cancel it,” he said.

However, the government has clarified that any organisation not registered with the Himachal Pradesh Tourism and Civil Aviation Department (HPTCAD) under the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development and Registration Act 2002 is not authorised to hold adventure sports activities.

The HPTCAD had already said the Billing Paragliding Association was not following proper safety measures and was not registered with it.

Meanwhile, Russian paraglider Alexey Ashurov, who went missing while practising in the hills Oct 23, is still untraceable.

Ashurov took off from Billing and lost his way due to strong winds and went missing.

Another Russian Elliyayudin, who was rescuing his friend Dmitri, was killed. Dmitri lost his way while flying due to strong winds and crash-landed on the hills.

A spokesperson for the association said: “Elliyayudin along with the private rescue team was attempting to ground rescue Dmitri. He slipped from a cliff while attempting rescue.”