Bhubaneswar: President Pratibha Patil on Thursday
left for New Delhi from the Biju Patnaik Airport here after a
three-day visit to Orissa.
The President was seen off at the airport by Chief
Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior officials, while Governor M
C Bhandare accompanied Patil in her return journey.
The President's departure was delayed by about 20 minutes
due to slight foggy conditions in the morning, officials said.
Earlier today, the President inaugurated a 'Cactus House'
and planted a sapling in the Raj Bhavan complex, they said.
Patil's visit had caused some anxious moments last
evening as the rotor blade of the MI-17 IAF helicopter
carrying her and other dignitaries hit an abandoned structure
while taxiing after landing at the airport here.
Though the chopper became unstable for a few seconds and
its blades got bent, all those onboard after a visit to the
Sun Temple at Konark and Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri were
safe.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 12:11