Darjeeling: "Complacency" at all levels has 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".

Roshan, wife Banshika and four other tourists were on the raft when it overturned near 6th Mile in Kalimpong, 50km from Siliguri Some unverified accounts suggested Roshan's life-jacket slipped off when Banshika clinged on to it.

"We will work closely with the Kalimpong district administration and introduce some regulations for rafters. We are focussing on proper training, having a rescue raft moving along the stretch at all times and regular checks on equipment. NHPC (a central hydro-power company) should give proper signals on the release of water from their dams," GTA chief Binay Tamang said on Wednesday.

Some of the operators, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that complacency had set in.

"In 2012, the GTA had brought in experts from the National Institute of Water Sports, Goa, and provided us with 15 days' training in life-saving techniques and rafting. Those who passed the test were given licences at the end of the training," an operator said.

The licence was to be renewed every two years. "No one took the initiative to renew the licence," the operator added.

Many young people have 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 have become essential to start business," said another operator.

There are allegations that the guides - those who steer the raft - are under pressure to complete trips quickly.

"A guide at times is paid only about Rs 400 a trip. A trip costs the customer around Rs 5,000... drivers (of tourist vehicles) who bring visitors take as much as Rs 1,500 as commission," an insider said.

Viswanath, the district magistrate of Kalimpong, said a probe had been launched into Wednesday's tragedy.