Munnar: A tourist had a narrow escape after plunging into the Mattupetty Dam from a height of nearly 200 feet (about 60 metres) while parasailing over the reservoir. 

The tourist, a native of Tamil Nadu who was visiting Munnar with friends, fell into the water during the parasailing ride on Tuesday evening. The adventure tourism activity was launched around six months ago. 

The tourist survived the fall as he knew how to swim and because a speedboat stationed nearby reached the spot promptly and rescued him.

Preliminary indications suggest that loss of control or strong winds may have led to the mishap. Authorities are also examining the possibility that the safety harness worn by the tourist either loosened or snapped during the ride.

Desperate to dissuade the tourist from reporting the incident, the parasailing operators allegedly paid him ₹15,000. The youth, meanwhile, lost his wristwatch in the dam during the fall. 

Parasailing at the dam is operated by a Kozhikode native under a revenue-sharing arrangement with Hydel Tourism, which functions under the Electricity Department.

Parasailing at Mattupetty
The parasailing system is operated using a speedboat in the dam. Tourists are taken to the middle of the reservoir, where they are strapped to a paraglider with a safety harness before being lifted into the air.

As the parachute opens and catches the wind, the tourist is hoisted upward and then glides above the water as the speedboat moves across the reservoir.