CM’s chopper lands on different helipad; miscommunication the reason, say police sources

The helicopter carrying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah landed on the wrong the helipad in Lingasagur, Raichur district, on February 8, owing to miscommunication, said sources in the police department.

Mr. Siddaramaiah was in town to attend the wedding of the grandson of Amaregouda Bayyapur, MLA.

The district administration had readied a total of three helipads in Lingasagur town. Two helipads, located near Raichur Road, had been prepared for the respective landings of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, who were in separate helicopters. Another one, near Kalaburagi Road, had been readied for the helicopter carrying Minister of Public Works Department Satish Jarkiholi.

Instead of landing the Chief Minister’s helicopter on a helipad near Raichur road, the pilot landed it on the helipad near Kalaburagi Road.

Upon receiving this information, Deputy Commissioner Nitish K., Superintendent of Police Arunangshu Giri, and other protocol officers who were waiting on the helipad near Raichur Road rushed to the other helipad to receive the Chief Minister. But by then, he was on his way to the venue with the escort police staff who had been deployed to receive Mr. Jarkiholi.

The Deputy Commissioner stated that no inquiry has been ordered into the incident.