55-year-old paraglider goes missing in Chitral

A search operation is underway in the mountainous Barum hills of Upper Chitral after a 55-year-old paraglider went missing during a flight amid deteriorating weather conditions.

The missing man has been identified as Asif Mehmood, a resident of Wah Cantt. He was part of a six-member paragliding group that took off from Zaini Pass near Terichmir peak in the Hindu Kush on Thursday afternoon.

According to officials from the local paragliding community, the weather changed suddenly about an hour after the group began its flight. Five members of the group, including the association’s president, managed to land safely.

Mehmood, however, continued flying in the direction of Chitral city.

The group remained in radio contact with him for around one and a half hours after take-off. His communication signal later went offline, raising concerns about his safety.

Authorities suspect that the paraglider may have crashed or been forced to make an emergency landing somewhere in the rugged Barum hills. The area is characterised by steep slopes and difficult mountainous terrain, making the search operation challenging.

Rescue 1122 teams were mobilised after Mehmood was reported missing. The search was halted during the night because of darkness and poor visibility, but rescue personnel resumed the operation early Friday.

Local volunteers and administration officials are also participating in the search, helping rescue teams cover the remote mountainous areas where Mehmood may have landed.

Rescuers are continuing efforts to locate the missing paraglider and determine his condition. The difficult terrain and unpredictable weather are complicating the operation.

The incident has also highlighted the risks associated with high-altitude paragliding in the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan, where sudden weather changes can create dangerous flying conditions.

A similar incident occurred last year when two American paragliders were injured after making a crash landing near Rush Lake in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Nagar district at an altitude of around 4,694 metres.