A Russian paraglider was left dangling 150 metres above the ground after becoming entangled in high-voltage power lines.
Evakin Alexei, 48, was flying over the mountainous region when his paraglider reportedly drifted off course and became caught in electricity wires.
The pilot was left suspended in mid-air, with any sudden movement potentially putting his life at risk.
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Other paragliders and local residents spotted him trapped in the wires and alerted the authorities.
Alexei managed to photograph his surroundings and send the images to the Bir Billing Paragliding Association, helping rescuers locate him.
The incident happened near Tandu village in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, India, yesterday (10 Nov).
Alexei had taken off from Bir-Billing in neighbouring Kangra district, a popular destination for paragliding.
Rescuers first arranged for the 33-kV electricity supply to be switched off to prevent electrocution.
With ordinary rescue equipment unable to reach him, officials brought in a 146-metre hydraulic crane from a nearby highway construction project.
The Pathankot-Mandi highway was temporarily closed to heavy vehicles while the crane was positioned.
Mattresses and tarpaulins were also placed on the ground beneath the pilot as an additional safety precaution.
An SDRF rescue worker and a trained operator then climbed into the crane’s basket and were slowly lifted towards Alexei.
After spending around two-and-a-half hours trapped above the ground, he was finally freed from the wires and brought safely down.
He was taken to Zonal Hospital in Mandi for a medical examination and reportedly escaped with no major injuries.
Footage of the dramatic rescue has since been viewed over
99.2k times since being circulated on social media, with viewers praising the emergency workers for their efforts.
The incident has also sparked debate about safety measures at popular paragliding destinations, with some questioning whether better warnings about nearby power lines are needed.
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