Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari escaped unhurt on Wednesday when a cloth got stuck in the rotor blades of his helicopter while landing at Haldia in West Bengal.
"Cloth got stuck in the wings of my helicopter while it was landing. But there is no accident. I am safe", Gadkari, who was there to attend a programme, told media persons.
Carpet or flags should not have been placed (near the landing site). They should be careful about it, he said.
Visuals on TV channels showed that carpets and sheets placed near the helipad started to fly when the chopper was landing.
Superintendent of Police, East Midnapore, Alok Rajoria said that nothing has happened during the landing of the minister's chopper.
The carpet at helipad ground was laid as part of guard of honour as per usual drill followed in such occasions. The carpet got dislodged from the ground due to sudden wind, the minister's office said.
There was no fault either on the part of the arrangement nor on the part of the pilot in following the DGCA-approved route, it said, adding the minister was absolutely safe.
Photograph: ANI
