PM's chopper develops technical snag during Assam visit

Guwahati: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's helicopter returned midway from a flight to strife-torn Kokrajhar district today due to a technical problem.

The Prime Minister's helicopter returned 15 minutes after take-off from the Lokopriyo Bordoloi International Airport, official sources said.

Initial reports said the Prime Minister's helicopter and two others with his entourage returned to the airport because of bad weather, but airport authority sources later clarified that the cause was a technical problem, the details of which could only be confirmed by the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister's programme was, however, not cancelled and he left for Kokrajhar by an IAF helicopter after routine security checks, the sources said.

The Prime Minister will review the situation with the BTAD authorities and visit two relief camps. Earlier, he arrived by a special aircraft from New Delhi.

Assam Governor JB Patnaik, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, his cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary NK Das and Director General of Police JN Chowdhury were present at the airport.

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