Fog delays flights of media to Kupwara

Srinagar, Nov 30 (UNI) Fog and poor visibility delayed the flights of mediapersons to Kupwara district in north Kashmir, where polling was held in five Assembly segments today.

About a dozen media persons, representing different local, national and international media organisations had to wait for four hours at the Nehru helipad as the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter could not take off due to poor visibility.

The pilot of the helicopter told the mediapersons, who were taken to helipad at 0900 hrs, that due to poor visibility he cannot take any risk can take off only at 1200 hrs.

Interestingly, the helicopter of Jammu and Kashmir government took off from the same helipad with Governor N N Vohra and his advisor at 1100 hrs.

Later the helicopter of former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah also left.

It was only at 1300 hrs the helicopter with mediapersons left for Tangdhar where the weather was very hot and clear.

However, on the return the helicopter again could not land at Nehru helipad and instead was diverted to technical airport because of poor visibility.

UNI BAS YSS JT UCS1820