Tamluk, June 21: A tourist parasailing in Mandarmani was killed when the rope that was pulling the parasail got entangled with a 100ft-tall lamppost this morning.

Tarun Ghosh, a Mother Dairy dealer from Pilkhana village in Murshidabad's Rejinagar, had been about two minutes in the air when a sudden gust of wind deflected the parasail towards the pole.

The driver of the SUV that was pulling the parasail apparently thought a few tugs would free the rope and revved the engine, but instead it toppled the pole.

The parasail collapsed and Ghosh, in his early 40s, plunged about 110ft to the beach. The lamppost fell on him.

Ghosh, who suffered injuries in the head and limbs, was rushed to Contai sub-divisional hospital, about 20km away, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Contai, Kazi Shamshuddin, said a probe had been started. "We will start a case of culpable homicide against the owners of the parasailing company. The owner and staff of the company are absconding. The bona fides of the organisation are being checked," he added.

East Midnapore district magistrate Antara Acharya said "strict instructions" were in place to stop unlicenced operators from conducting sports activities in Mandarmani. "But a few unscrupulous traders take advantage of the huge tourist turnout and carry out unlicenced activities," she added.