Minister escapes unhurt; pilots injured as copter force lands

Ranchi, Apr 27 (UNI) Jharkhand Education Minister Bandhu Tirkey and three co-passengers escaped unhurt but two pilots were injured when their helicopter fell to the ground from about five feet at Alakhpathar village, 60 km from Dumka district, today.

Mr Tirkey and three others--Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch leader Jagdish Lohra, MP from Godda Furqan Ansari's son Irafan and a scribe of a national English daily--who sustained minor bruises, were sent to Dumka.

''But pilots Capt Alok Sen and Capt Sarma received internal injuries,'' Dumka Deputy Commisioner Mastram Meena told UNI here.

They were rushed to nearby Suri in West Bengal.

According to official sources the helicopter was supposed to land at Ranigram. But it developed a technical snag while three km away from the destination. The chopper fell to the ground from about five feet leading to damage of blades and windscreen.

The minister was scheduled to address a meeting at a school at the locality, the DC said, adding the emergency landing took place at about 1015 hours.

The place where the copter had to force land was not convenient resulting in its damage, he said.

After the meeting in that area the minister was scheduled to address another gathering at Nala in Jamtara district.

The minister's tour was part of his campaign for the much-hypded 'school chalen hum'.

UNI