UP CM Yogi Adityanath's chopper makes emergency landing after bird-hit in Varanasi

VARANASI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s helicopter had to make an emergency landing after a bird-hit soon after the take-off from Varanasi on Sunday morning.
The CM was leaving for Lucknow in the helicopter from the helipad at the police lines in the city after an overnight stay.
Divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal said the CM boarded his chopper at 9.15am and it took off at 9.20am but returned before 9.30am as the pilot preferred a precautionary landing after a bird-hit.
District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “There was a bird-hit after few minutes of the take-off and the pilot decided for precautionary landing and returned to the police lines helipad. Later, the CM left for Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport by road and left for Lucknow in a state plane.”
Commissioner of police A Satish Ganesh said after the CM’s helicopter took off, all officials were getting ready to leave while he had to visit the newly constructed lounge in police lines for inspection when it was noticed that the helicopter was returning.
The security personnel and officials rushed back to their duty points.
“The pilot informed officials about the bird-hit. The CM went back to the circuit house and stayed there till a state plane reached the LBSI Airport. The CM then proceeded to the airport and left for Lucknow in the plane,” said Agrawal.
The CM’s departure was delayed by almost 2.30 hours due to the incident.
The CM had reached Varanasi on Saturday evening and held a series of meetings with public representatives and officials of district administration, police, and other departments to review progress of on-going development projects.
He also offered prayers at the Kaal Bhairav temple and Kashi Vishwanath temple where he inspected Ganga Dwar, the entry point of the shrine area from the river bank side, and sought details of facilities and arrangements for pilgrims.