(Image source from: Hindustan Times)

An Indian-origin man of Australia died in a paragliding crash in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi on Wednesday, ANI reported.

The rescue operation was launched hours after Sanjay KR Devarkonda, 50, was reported missing from the paragliding site in Bir Billing.

Sub-divisional magistrate Vikas Shukla said Devarkonda may have lost control of his paraglider, Hindustan Times reported. Authorities have informed the Australian embassy of his death.

The rescue unit recovered his body after a six-hour operation near the Joginder Nagar area and has been sent for a postmortem, subsequently.

The incident follows the death involving Singaporean paraglider Kok Choonk Na, who was found dead in Himachal Pradesh's Dhauladhar mountains on October 23. The 53-year-old on Monday had taken off from Bir Billing and was in the state to take part in the Paragliding World Cup Championship being organized from October 27.

On Wednesday, Spanish paraglider Jose Lewis, who reportedly went missing six days ago, was found in Palampur. Lewis had also taken off from Bir Billing on October 20.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, two paragliders, identified as a Russian and a Latvian, sustained injuries during mishaps after taking off earlier this week.

Paragliders from around the world have crowded the state to attend the event to be held in Bir Billing from October 27. More than 160 paragliders are expected to take part in the event.

Ranvijay, a paragliding supervisor at Bir said, they register flyers after examining their flying license, insurance, and other documents, The Times of India reported. "The fee for registration is Rs 500 for a week," Ranvijay said.

-Sowmya Sangam