Dhanbad: Deputy chairman of the Planning Commission,Monek Singh Ahluwalia,who was the chief guest at the Indian School of Mines's 35th annual convocation had a miraculous escape on Saturday when the private plane carrying him to Dhanbad had to become airborne twice before making a safe landing at a private airstrip at Bhaura.
According to the officials present at the Bhaura airstrip of the Tatas, some cattle had intruded into the airstrip for grazing when the plane was descending. The alert pilot of the plane which was about to land did not land and became airborne twice.When the cattle were removed by the policemen,the plane landed safely.There was no damage to the plane either.
The airstrip situated on the banks of river Damodar is visited by animals for grazing as the area is not closed.Dhanbad has an airport at Barawadda,which is managed by the state civil aviation department.
24/02/13 Law Kumar Mishra/Times of India
