Technical snag forces PM's chopper to return to Guwahati

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

The prime minister's helicopter returned 15 minutes after take off from the Lokopriyo Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, official sources said.

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

The PM's programme was, however, not cancelled and he would leave for Kokrajhar by an Indian Air Force helicopter after routine security checks, the sources said.

The PM was scheduled to review the situation with the Bodoland Territorial Area District authorities and visit two relief camps. Earlier, Dr Singh arrived by a special aircraft from New Delhi.

Assam Governor J B Patnaik, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, his cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary N K Das and Director General of Police J N Chowdhury were present at the airport.