Odisha Governor M C Bhandare had a providential escape as his helicopter crash landed just a few minutes after it took off for Malkankangiri from the Jeypore airstrip today due to technical snag. The Governor and all the crew members landed safely. Sources said 30 years ago late Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik could not take off from the air strip due to battery problem. Mr Bhandare who had a series of programmes in Malkangiri , Nabarangpur and Koraput districts landed in Jeypore air strip around 12 noon today for refilling. Soon after taking off a few meters the chopper could not fly and made an emergency landing. Later, the officials accompanying the Governor tried to arrange another chopper for his scheduled visit but failed. The Governor had to stay at the airstrip till 2.10 PM and his visit to Malkangiri was cancelled. Later the district administration of Koraput arranged the Governor's tour to Nabarabngpur by road. First governor attended a meeting at Sindhiguda Balashram and Kasturaba Gandhi School, later at Ashakiran interacted with the students later returned to Koraput by road in the evening
