Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s chopper had to turn back and return to the Kolkata airport on Saturday after low visibility due to dense fog. The dense fog prevented its landing at West Bengal’s Taherpur helipad in Nadia district, news agency PTI reported, citing an official from the staff.
The chopper’s landing at the helipad reportedly failed due to low visibility on account of dense fog in the area. “The PM’s chopper made a U-turn after hovering over the helipad ground for a while and returned to the Kolkata airport,” PTI reported.
PM Modi’s plans
PM Modi was scheduled to address a rally titled “Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha” in Nadia today amid heightened political tensions over the ongoing SIR exercise in West Bengal.
Due to the travel disruption, PM Modi reportedly addressed the rally over the phone. “I apologise that bad weather prevented me from reaching the venue in Bengal’s Nadia,” PTI quoted him as saying.
He had reached Kolkata at 10:40 am this morning and left for his destination in Nadia from here. People had gathered in huge numbers at the Taherpur Netaji Park in Ranaghat, but couldn’t witness him in person as PM Modi addressed the rally virtually.
What was on Agenda
As per media reports, Prime Minister Modi was supposed to inaugurate a slew of National Highway projects. These included a 66.7 km 4-lane stretch of the Barajguli–Krishnanagar section of NH-34 and the foundation stone for the 4-laning of the Barasat–Barajguli section of NH-34, aimed at improving connectivity between Kolkata and Siliguri.
Ahead of his Bengal visit, PM Modi slammed the TMC government, saying its “misrule” was causing people to suffer despite the state benefiting from the Centre’s schemes.
“The looting and intimidation by the Trinamool have crossed all limits. That is why today, the BJP is the only hope and trust of the people.”
PM Modi’s chopper turns back to Kolkata after fog prevents landing in Bengal, addresses rally over phone
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