Football Match Played at Melli Ground disrupted by Chopper landing.
MELLI, August, 08: Due to bad weather conditions, the Pawan Hans helicopter plying from Bagdogra to Gangtok carrying two passengers was forced to land at the Melli Ground here yesterday right in the middle of a local football match.
A match of the 61st Independence Day Football tournament was being played in the ground when this incident happened. The footballers were taken completely by surprise when the chopper started to hover above the ground in a desperate attempt to land. The players had no choice but to run for cover.
This unexpected intrusion in the match caused much annoyance to the people, especially the organisers who had to call off the match for the day with the chopper sitting pretty in the middle of the field. The incident compelled the organising committee to pay compensation to the teams, putting the tournament in a financial tight spot.
Much to the annoyance of the local people, the pilot of the chopper apparently left without any information. 24 hours later, another pilot came from Delhi arrived at the scene and finally the chopper took off again.
When the SP, South was contacted by this reporter on this incident, it was made known that the pilot informed the Melli Police about the incident verbally, not in writing. The Police provided security around the clock to the stranded chopper and directed the SI Melli to record a General Diary entry.
The football tournament organising committee is contemplating asking the department operating the helicopter service for compensation for the financial loses they suffered o the disruption of the matches
A match of the 61st Independence Day Football tournament was being played in the ground when this incident happened. The footballers were taken completely by surprise when the chopper started to hover above the ground in a desperate attempt to land. The players had no choice but to run for cover.
This unexpected intrusion in the match caused much annoyance to the people, especially the organisers who had to call off the match for the day with the chopper sitting pretty in the middle of the field. The incident compelled the organising committee to pay compensation to the teams, putting the tournament in a financial tight spot.
Much to the annoyance of the local people, the pilot of the chopper apparently left without any information. 24 hours later, another pilot came from Delhi arrived at the scene and finally the chopper took off again.
When the SP, South was contacted by this reporter on this incident, it was made known that the pilot informed the Melli Police about the incident verbally, not in writing. The Police provided security around the clock to the stranded chopper and directed the SI Melli to record a General Diary entry.
The football tournament organising committee is contemplating asking the department operating the helicopter service for compensation for the financial loses they suffered o the disruption of the matches
