The Hindu : Front Page : Amarinder escapes unhurt in chopper crash

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Amarinder escapes unhurt in chopper crash

Sarabjit Pandher

Wheels got entangled with 11kV power line

CHANDIGARH : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, two of his ministerial colleagues and three others escaped unhurt on Tuesday when the helicopter in which they were travelling crashed after entangling with power lines near Sri Hargobindpur town in Gurdaspur district.

Local Bodies Minister Jagjit Singh, PWD (B and R) and Education Minister Partap Singh Bajwa, Deputy Inspector-General Khubi Ram, Superintendent of Police Narinder Bhargava and Officer on Special Duty Amardeep Singh were with the Chief Minister. Talking to The Hindu over phone, Capt. Singh described his escape as "divine intervention.""God saved us to continue the fight for another day," he said, sounding quite upbeat and cheerful.Witnesses said the copter came down from a height of about 25 feet, after its wheels hit an 11kV high-tension line, which snapped disconnecting supply and tripping the system.

Capt. Singh said that he boarded the helicopter after presiding over a function to lay the foundation stone of a 66 kV grid station being set up by the Punjab State Electricity Board, to proceed to a `vikas rally' at Sri Hargobindpur.

As the chopper took off, it raised a cloud of dust, which apparently impaired the pilot's vision.

The DIG said it was a "freak accident," and though the Chief Minister's programme was delayed, he reached the rally venue and addressed the public.

This is the second mishap involving Capt. Singh. On September 27, 2004, his chopper force-landed in the fields between Nalagarh and Pinjore, after one of the engines developed an oil leak.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page