Rain God spoils PM's date with Coastal K'taka

Bangalore, June 23 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's date with Coastal and Northern Karnataka has run into rough weather for the second consecutive time, with the premier unable to land at the Bajpe airport, near Mangalore, due to inclement weather and heavy rain today.

The IAF Boeing aircraft, in which Dr Singh was travelling to Mangalore on the first lap of his two-day visit to the State, failed to land at the Bajpe Airport near Mangalore due to heavy downpour.

The aircraft hovered for a couple of sorties, before it was diverted to Bangalore, his next destination.

The Prime Minister was scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the prestigious Rs 4,900 crore aromatic complex of the ONGC at Permude in Dakshina Kannada district.

Earlier in August last year, he faced a similar unpleasaant experience during his visit to Belgaum to survey the flood-affected regions of Northern Karnataka. However, his helicopter, which took off from Goa, could not cross the Aravallis and had to return to Goa en route to Mumbai. He had to be content with an aerial survey of some of the affected regions.

UNI GD-RG VK TS1708