KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari’s helicopter was forced to return to Siliguri on Tuesday after poor weather and low visibility made it difficult to land in the hills, a senior official said.Adhikari was on his way to Kalimpong when the helicopter circled over the area for some time before turning back to Siliguri.He is scheduled to hold an administrative meeting at Uttar Kanya in Siliguri, which will go ahead as planned, the official said.“The helicopter could not land safely because of poor visibility in the hills, so it returned to Siliguri. The chief minister will continue with his scheduled administrative engagements and may participate in the Kalimpong programme virtually,” a senior state government official told news agency PTI.Adhikari called the meeting amid concerns over possible natural disasters in the hills in the wake of the devastation in neighbouring Nepal.The visit is aimed at reviewing disaster preparedness and the administration’s response mechanisms in the region, the bureaucrat said.According to the original itinerary, Adhikari was to reach Bagdogra airport and travel by helicopter to Kalimpong.“Arrangements had also been kept ready for him to travel by road if weather conditions prevented the helicopter from landing,” he said.The chief minister was scheduled to distribute benefits under various social welfare schemes to hill residents at a programme at Kalimpong Town Hall.This is the second time that adverse weather has affected Adhikari’s helicopter travel. Inclement weather had forced his helicopter to make an emergency landing at Kolaghat in Purba Medinipur district on August 11.(With agency inputs)
