Watch: Paragliders crash into Tehri Lake; dramatic SDRF rescue caught on camera

• SDRF rescued two paraglider pilots after they plunged into Tehri Lake mid-air
• Both pilots were unharmed and received first aid after the swift rescue
• Festival continued with heightened safety protocols and new digital experiences

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A rapid response by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) averted potential disaster on Thursday when two paraglider pilots lost control and plunged into the chilled waters of Tehri Lake during a high-profile sporting festival.

The incident occurred during the third day of the Acro Festival & SIV Championship Tehri 2026, a key government-backed event designed to showcase Uttarakhand as a premier adventure sports destination. According to police reports, the two pilots suffered a mid-air loss of control, leading to their descent directly into the lake.

A major paragliding mishap was narrowly averted at Tehri Lake during the Acro Festival and SIV Championship Tehri 2026 on January 29. Two pilots lost control mid-air and plunged into the lake, but the on-standby SDRF team swiftly rescued them using a coordinated operation. pic.twitter.com/UsUWarL2ee

— RB. (@rahul4bisht) January 30, 2026

Pre-emptively deployed rescue teams, a standard safety measure for the festival, reacted immediately. SDRF personnel swiftly reached the pilots, pulled them from the water and conducted what officials described as an efficient rescue operation.

A preliminary medical examination confirmed both individuals were "completely safe." After receiving necessary first aid, they were moved to a secure location.

The rescue highlights the persistent risks inherent in aerial acrobatic sports, even at organised events. Notably, the festival’s organisers faced a similar incident during the 2024 championship, when an acro pilot from Haryana fell and was injured at the take-off site, requiring stretcher evacuation and transfer to a major hospital.

Despite Thursday’s scare, the four-day festival, an initiative of the state’s Tourism Department, continued as planned with heightened safety protocols. The event, which concludes on January 30, featured pilots from India and abroad performing complex aerial manoeuvres over the Tehri Dam reservoir, dazzling spectators.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the government integrated advanced technology into this year’s event, offering an innovative digital layer. Visitors could scan QR codes at the venue to access an AI-powered virtual experience, simulating the sensation of paragliding over Tehri’s valleys without needing to download an application.