Union Home Minister P Chidambaram forced to change chopper in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram was today forced to change his helicopter while on way to Gurez from Pahalgam in Kashmir Valley following a "deviation" in the chopper's flight parameter.

"The chopper carrying the Home Minister had to be changed at Srinagar as there was some deviation in the flight parameters to Gurez," a senior official said here.

He said the change of helicopter was carried out as the pilots did not want to take any risk with Chidambaram on board.

"It was in no way a forced landing ... just a precautionary measure," the official said.

Chidambaram, who is on a visit to the state, was going to Gurez in north Kashmir from Pahalgam in south Kashmir.