Siliguri, Jan. 25: Parasailing has swept Siliguri off its feet.

Though the four-day camp organised by the north Bengal and Sikkim chapter of the Delhi-based National Adventure Foundation (NAF) targeted schoolchildren, people of all ages and walks of life, weighing below 70 kg, flocked to BSF ground, Salugara, to feel first-hand the thrill of flying.

Apart from the excitement of getting a bird’s eye view of the subdivision, the affordable rates also went a long way in pulling in the crowds.

The charge for each flight was fixed at Rs 170 for students and Rs 200 for others. The flying sessions were conducted from 9 am to 1pm and then again from 2 pm to 4 pm.

The event began on Thursday and the organisers have another similar two-day event planned from February 7.

Manoj Prasad, 35, who had gone because his children had “forced” him to, could not resist the temptation when he saw the wonderful time they were having.

So when his children were attending pre-parasailing instructions from the trainers, he called his friend Sanath Gupta, a businessmen, over. They took the ride together. “Are yaar, it’s great,” they could be heard shouting.

“We held similar programmes for students of Kendriya Vidyalayas in the area last year. Anybody weighing less than 70 kg can parasail,” the director of the north Bengal and Sikkim chapter of the NAF, D.K. Gurung, said.

“Quizmaster Derek O’Brien had come with some students of Calcutta schools a couple of years ago. The programme was a huge success. Despite the growing popularity of this adventure sport, however, sponsors are hard to come by,” he added. “This region is blessed with perfect weather and great spots for this sport. All we is to need raise funds to arrange such events more often.”