Kalimpong district admin suspends rafting on Teesta after Delhi man dies

Darjeeling: The district administration, Kalimpong has temporarily suspended white water river rafting on Teesta.

This decision comes on the heels of a tourist losing his life while rafting on river Teesta on May 9.

31-year-old Roshan Singh and his wife were rafting on the 7th Mile stretch of the river in Kalimpong along with another couple from Delhi when the raft capsized. Roshan lost his life in the accident. His wife was grievously injured while the other couple sustained minor injuries. Roshan hailing from Mazaffarpur, Bihar was married a week ago and had come to Sikkim for honeymoon. The other woman who had sustained minor injuries had alleged that there was no help at hand and that the tourists had floated more than 3 km downstream before being fished out of the water.

She had questioned the safety measures. The district administration, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Police and the Rafting companies sat for a meeting in Kalimpong on Thursday.

The meeting was chaired by the District Magistrate, Kalimpong. "We have temporarily suspended rafting. Rafting will resume after we review the equipment used and safety measures being adopted. A three member committee has been constituted with a member each from the district administration, GTA and police department to monitor this adventure sport, which is a very popular in this region," stated Vishwanath, District Magistrate, Kalimpong while talking to Millennium Post.

However, there are reports of safety measures not adhering to set guidelines specially during tourist onrush.

"We had received a complaint from the police that safety measures had been compromised. We then called a meeting and have instructed the Rafters to furnish details of the equipment they use and the training that the guides have undergone along with safety measures that are adopted. They have to do so within a week. Only after we review this, we will allow the companies using proper equipment and the guides with proper training to operate. Till then, Rafting has been suspended," stated Jyoti Kumar Ghosh, Deputy Magistrate and Officer in Charge Tourism, Kalimpong.