Tragic Zipline Accident in Manali Highlights Safety Concerns in Adventure Tourism
A Disturbing Incident in Manali
Both parties claim to have reached a ‘mutual understanding’
Munish Sood
MANDI: The stunning landscapes of Manali, located in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, renowned for their natural beauty and thrilling adventure sports, are now becoming sites of tragedy.
Recently, a 12-year-old girl from Nagpur, Maharashtra, named Trisha Bijwe, sustained multiple fractures after falling from a zipline when the safety rope attached to her harness broke mid-air. Disturbing footage of the incident shows her plummeting onto the rocks below.
Girl transported back to Nagpur for medical care
The girl's family, in shock and distress, initially took her to Mission Hospital in Manali, but due to the severity of her injuries, she was later transferred to PGIMER in Chandigarh and subsequently to a private facility in Nagpur for surgery.
Upon inquiry, local police distanced themselves from the situation, claiming that the family had come to an ‘understanding’ with the zipline operators. Locals suggest that such agreements often stem from coercion, hush money, and the fear of lengthy legal disputes.
Manali's Deputy Superintendent of Police, KD Sharma, mentioned that no formal complaint had been filed. He stated, “Both parties reached a mutual understanding,” but did not clarify why no proactive measures were taken despite the serious nature of the incident.
Previous Fatality in Paragliding Incident
This incident is not isolated. Earlier this year, Tadi Mahesh Reddy, a 32-year-old tourist from Andhra Pradesh, tragically lost his life during a paragliding accident in Raison, located 20 km from Manali. A sudden gust of wind caused the glider to nosedive, and despite immediate medical attention, he died from his injuries at a hospital in Mandi.
In both cases, authorities have failed to establish accountability. A hotelier from Manali remarked, “Adventure tourism in Himachal Pradesh is thriving but operates with dangerously minimal oversight. Numerous operators engage in activities like ziplining, paragliding, and river rafting without standardized safety protocols, certified instructors, or regular equipment checks.”
An official from the state tourism department commented, “Regular audits are virtually non-existent. Many operators continue to utilize outdated or damaged equipment. The police or district administration seldom intervene unless a fatality occurs.”