news details |
|
|
| Weather plays spoilsport: | | The first lady could not reach Bhaderwah | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | May 25
>> Patil’s chopper could not take off owing inclement weather
>> The one carrying her aides makes emergency landing at Pahalgam
>> Bhaderwah campus inauguration postponed
Much hyped inauguration of Bhaderwah campus of Jammu University was postponed at the last minute as President Pratibha Patil failed to make it to the venue due to bad weather conditions in Srinagar.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters in Bhaderwah that President’s chopper could not take off due to rain and bad weather conditions. The Chief Minister and his senior cabinet colleagues were present along with several other senior police and administrative officials at the venue of the Bhaderwah university campus where he addressed a grand rally.
Official sources said that President who spent last night at world famous tourist spot Gulmarg had to take road journey this morning to reach Srinagar as her Chopper could not take off due to low visibility and rains.
Officials said that from Srinagar, the President was scheduled to visit Bhaderwah town at 11.15 am but she could not continue her journey due to persistent cloudy conditions en route Bhaderwah.
As per the original schedule President was scheduled to land at Bhaderwah between 9 am to 10 am. While, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who had already landed here in the morning waited for the whole day, the president's visit was finally cancelled due to unremitting weather conditions.
Officials said that later Chief Minister also flew to Srinagar where he had to attend the inaugural function of Santosh trophy without inaugurating the campus.
Meanwhile, officials accompanying President Pratibha Patil's immediate family had a narrow escape on Sunday when an IAF helicopter carrying them made an emergency landing in a village, about 20 kilometres from the tourist resort of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
The MI-17 helicopter, which had five officials on board, was tailing another airforce chopper carrying the President's husband Devisingh Shekhawat, son and daughter.
The chopper with the family of the President, who is on a five-day visit to the border state, had safely reached Pahalgam, officials here said.
No one was hurt when the helicopter made the emergency landing, which, sources said, was apparently due to some technical problem.
However, thick security blanket in and around Bhaderwah will remain in place as the president is still expected to visit the campus.
Chief Minister himself expressed this sentiment during his interaction with reporters. He informed that since President would remain present in the state for two more days a formal request would be extended to her to visit Bhaderwah campus of the Jammu University and inaugurate it. Over fifteen thousand people including five to six thousand school children who had gathered at the function venue had to go back with unfulfilled wish of having a glimpse of the president. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
