A motor glider crash landed at Deoghar on Wednesday while the pilot along with the co-pilot was on a regular flight during the routine maintenance of the glider. The pilot, who received minor injuries, was rushed to Ranchi while the co-pilot is said to be safe.
The single engine aircraft, meant to be used for the purpose of taking the pilgrims of Baba Dham for ‘parikrama’ (round) over Baidyanath Dham temple at Deogarh crashed at the airstrip.
“A technical snag was found to have developed shortly after the take off from the air strip while the glider was on a routine trial flight following its maintenance at Kunda and crash-landed,” said a senior official in Deoghar. Pilot of the glider captain S K Sinha suffered minor cut injuries. He was rushed to Ranchi for medical assistance on the instruction of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The aircraft was being used for flying around the famous Baidyanath Dham temple during the month-long Shrawani Mela under the Jharkhand Government’s ambitious ‘Akash Vandana’ scheme, where the pilgrims were taken to fly, taking a round of the temple. The government charges Rs 800 per head for a round of the temple complex.