The Hindu : Front Page : Fernandes' pilot loses way

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 04, 2004

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Front Page

Fernandes' pilot loses way

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHITRADURGA, APRIL 3. A helicopter carrying the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, missed the helipad and landed near the crowd gathered for his election meeting at Bharama Sagara, about 250 km from Bangalore, this evening. Sections of the crowd scattered as the helicopter came in.

The chopper was to have landed at the Sirigere helipad 15 km away but the pilot lost his way, officials said.

The helicopter took off from Gouribidanur and flew to Davangere.

From there, it flew to Bharama Sagara following the National Highway and landed near the venue of the meeting.

Mr. Fernandes was expected to land at Sirigere around 3.30 p.m.

"We had made all arrangements at the helipad near Sirigere. The pilot was given the details of the route. Security arrangements were also made at the helipad,'' said a senior official.

Mr. Fernandes came to Bharama Sagara to inaugurate the election campaign of the Janata Dal (U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Davangere Lok Sabha constituency.

The senior officials and party leaders, who were waiting to receive Mr. Fernandes at Sirigere, rushed to Bharama Sagara on learning that the helicopter had landed there.

The president of the Janata Dal (U) State unit, B. Somashekar, and M.P. Nadagouda, former MLA, accompanied the Minister.

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