Una, March 12 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s helicopter was forced to land in Una on Thursday instead of its scheduled destination Nadaun in Hamirpur district after adverse weather conditions affected visibility along the planned route.
Officials said the helicopter carrying the chief minister had initially been scheduled to land in Nadaun as part of his official visit to the region. However, deteriorating weather conditions and poor visibility made it unsafe to continue the flight, prompting authorities to divert the aircraft to Una.
According to administrative officials, the diversion was taken as a precautionary safety measure. The chief minister landed safely in Una, and there were no reports of any technical issues with the aircraft.
Weather Conditions Disrupt Flight Plan
Weather in several parts of Himachal Pradesh remained unstable on Thursday, with cloud cover and intermittent rain reported in parts of the lower and mid-hill districts. Such conditions can significantly affect helicopter operations, particularly in hilly terrain where visibility is critical for safe landings.
Aviation protocols require pilots to divert flights if weather conditions at the intended landing site fall below safety limits. Officials said the decision to land in Una was taken after assessing the weather situation near Nadaun.
Chief Minister’s Scheduled Visit
The chief minister had planned to attend official engagements in the Nadaun area during the visit. After landing in Una, arrangements were made for the onward journey to the scheduled venue by road.
Government officials coordinating the visit confirmed that the change in landing location did not affect the chief minister’s planned public and administrative engagements.
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Safety Protocols for Helicopter Operations
Helicopter travel is frequently used by political leaders in hilly states like Himachal Pradesh to reach remote or distant locations quickly. However, sudden changes in weather conditions often require adjustments to flight plans.
Pilots are required to follow strict safety protocols, especially when operating in mountainous regions where fog, cloud cover, and rain can rapidly reduce visibility.
Authorities said the safe diversion to Una demonstrated adherence to standard aviation safety procedures.
The chief minister later continued his journey to Nadaun by road to attend scheduled programmes in the area.
