West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan had to return to the city without visiting the storm-hit areas in the State's Uttar Dinajpore district, as inclement weather foiled attempts to make a safe landing at the district headquarters in Raigunj.
Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborti told journalists: “Governor Nayaranan's helicopter could not land due to bad weather.
As a result, he went back to Siliguri where he held meetings with the district magistrate and other senior officials.”
Raj Bhavan sources confirmed that Mr. Narayanan had flown back to the city from North Bengal.
Uttar Dinajpore magistrate Ramanuj Chakraborty said the pilot could not locate the landing site, because of bad weather.
The chopper hovered around for sometime but the pilot did not feel it was safe enough to land even after smoke signals were set up. The Governor was slated to visit Hemtabad, one of the four affected blocks.
On the issue of demonstrations by locals protesting against inadequate relief, he said that “there is no protest as such” and it was all “politically motivated.”
Mr. Chakraborti said that he held discussions with the Opposition leaders and there was no problem with co-ordination of relief.
According to him, 42 people were killed in the storm which struck the district on April 13-14 night, affecting over a lakh people.
