PM Modi's aircraft faces technical hitch at Jharkhand's Deoghar Airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return to Delhi was delayed on Friday afternoon after his aircraft experienced a technical snag. The plane was grounded at Deoghar airport in Jharkhand for an indefinite period, disrupting the PM’s planned schedule. Modi had addressed two rallies in the state as part of the ongoing election campaign before heading back to the capital for a scheduled event.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also faced travel issues in Jharkhand when his chopper was flagged for ATC non-clearance, delaying his departure by 45 minutes. The aircraft was eventually cleared for takeoff, but the delay led to accusations from Congress leaders who alleged that the timing was a deliberate attempt to disrupt Gandhi’s campaign. Dipika Pandey Singh, Congress MLA and candidate from Mahagama, voiced her frustration, stating, "Just because the PM is in Deogarh, Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to cross that area... This kind of incident never happened when Congress ruled for 70 years, and it is unacceptable."

The updates came after PM Modi’s visit to Jamui in Bihar, where he commemorated the birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter Birsa Munda. During the event, Modi launched tribal welfare projects worth over ₹6,000 crore, aimed at enhancing the development and welfare of tribal communities.