Close shave for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in Rajgir as tin shed flies near his chopper

PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar's helicopter had a narrow escape in Rajgir on Friday after a tin shed was blown away during landing, raising serious concerns over VVIP security arrangements in the state.
Nitish had travelled to Rajgir to inaugurate new facilities at the Rajgir Sports Academy-cum-University. However, the incident highlighted a lapse in security protocols as the nearby tin shed was not removed in advance. Had it been any closer, it could have led to a major accident.
The key question now facing officials is why the tin structure was allowed near the helipad in the first place, a failure that underscores potential negligence in the CM's security arrangements.
When contacted, K K Upadhyay, officer on special duty to the Nalanda district magistrate, said, "I have no such information."
The CM departed from Patna by helicopter on Friday morning. As the chopper began its descent in Rajgir, the force of the rotor blades blew away a tin shed kept nearby. Fortunately, the debris remained at a safe distance and the helicopter landed without incident.
Eyewitnesses said they saw strong wind gusts at the time of landing, causing light objects in the vicinity to become airborne.
This is not the first time questions have been raised over Nitish Kumar's security. On Feb 18 this year, a stranger's vehicle suddenly intercepted the CM's motorcade while he was on way to Patna airport during his Pragati Yatra to Kaimur.
Similarly, during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, on May 26, the CM's helicopter ran out of fuel following a rally in Masaurhi, forcing him to return to Patna by road.