5 injured as vehicle in President's convoy skids off road

EEnaduindia, India Today and KalimNews, 15-Jul-2016: The accident happened near Sonada when the third vehicle in the Presidential convoy slipped off the road and fell down. The convoy also had West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was also travelling along with the President to Delhi to attend the Inter state council meeting tomorrow.

Among those injured was A P Singh, Chief Security Liaison officer of the President. Heavy rains and thick fog had led the President to take a road trip on his return leg as Indian Air Force helicopters could not operate.

Army personnel along with those working in the Presidential Secretariat were engaged in the rescue operations. Banerjee was personally supervising the operation while the President had been halted at a safe location ahead.

His Press Secretary Venu Rajamony said the "the President is safe". Member Parliament and the President's son Abhijeet Mukherjee also assisted in the rescue operation.

One of the police escort vehicles in President Pranab Mukherjee's convoy met with an accident when the President's convoy was travelling to Bagdogra from Darjeeling today.

The incident took place when the driver lost control after the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge at Sonada, around 17 km from Darjeeling town. The pilot van was at the of the end of the Presidential convoy when it lost control and fell into the gorge.

According to locals, it was drizzling in the area and the weather was foggy due to which visibility was low. The vehicle fell for about 30 feet into the gorge and got stuck in a tree. They were immediately rescued by police personnel in the convoy with the use of ropes.

TH: One of the escort vehicles of President  Pranab Mukherjee's convoy met with an accident on the way to Bagdogra Airport from Darjeeling hills on Friday. One of cars carrying six security personnel lost control and strayed off from the hill road and went several meters down a deep gorge. 

"Car in President's carcade from Darjeeling to Bagdogra goes off road, minor injuries to security personnel; PresidentMukherjee safe," the President tweeted. 

 In another tweet Mr. Mukherjee said that all the security personnel in the vehicle are safe. 

"Unfortunate accident involving escort vehicle in convoy enroute to Bagdogra today ;everybody well by grace of God  PresidentMukherjee," the President said in another tweet.  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose convoy was following President Pranab Mukherjee motorcade, got down from the vehicle helped security personnel . 

"Dada you don't worry. All of them are alive. We have dropped ropes... One person has come up," Ms. Banerjee told the President over telephone. The accident occurred near Sonada. 

The President was on a three day visit to Darjeeling hills.