Darjeeling: "Complacency" at all levelshas crept into the business of
white-river rafting in the hills, a section of the operators said on
Thursday, a day after a tourist died following a capsize in the Teesta.
The death of Roshan Singh, 38, a resident of Bihar's
Muzaffarpur who was on honeymoon, prompted the Gorkhaland Territorial
Administration (GTA) to declare that it was looking at putting in "some
regulations" for the rafters.
Roshan, his wife Banshika and four other tourists from Delhi
were on the raft when it overturned near 6th Mile in Kalimpong, 50km
from Siliguri.
"We will work closely with the Kalimpong district
administration and put in some regulations for the rafters. Issues like
proper training, having a rescue raft moving along the stretch at all
times and regular checks on equipments will have to be done. Ways to get
proper signals from the NHPC (a central hydro-power company) on the
release of water from their dams also have to be worked out," GTA chief
Binay Tamang said on Wednesday.
Some rafters, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted
complacency had set in. "In 2012, the GTA had bought in experts from
National Institute of Water Sports, Goa, and provided us with 15 days'
training on life-saving techniques and rafting. Those who passed were
given licences but those who failed were not," said a veteran rafter.
The licence was to be renewed every two years. "Neither the GTA, the
institute nor the rafters took any initiative to renew this licence,"
the rafter added.
Many young people have now joined the profession, solely
relying on their natural abilities. "Earlier, the GTA used to provide
permission to start rafting in the Teesta but over the past few years,
political affiliations are what is needed to start business," said
another rafter.
There are allegations that the guides - those who steer the raft - are under pressure to complete trips quickly.
"A guide on the raft at times is paid only about Rs 400 per
trip. A trip costs the customer around Rs 5,000 but such is the
competition that drivers (of tourist vehicles) who bring visitors take
as much as Rs 1,500 as commission," said an insider.
Old rafters have their own rules which have been drawn upon
their experiences. "If there are old people or children on the boat, old
rafters steer their raft into river Rangit as the water is calmer and
warmer compared to river Teesta," said another rafter.
There are more than 50 rafts that ferry tourists along the Teesta.
Viswanath, district magistrate, Kalimpong, said a probe had
been launched into Wednesday's tragedy. "We have started an inquiry to
look into all aspects."
The Telegraph