Days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy died in a chopper crash, authorities in Chhattisgarh have decided to take extra precautions like setting up a high-frequency satellite phone in Chief Minister Raman Singh's helicopter.
Chhattisgarh procured such phones mainly
for use during anti-Maoist operations in remote forested areas where no mobile network or basic communication facilities are available.
The state government's chief pilot DS Mishra has also been advised not to fly the chopper in bad weather and ensure that before each takeoff the chopper has been thoroughly examined.
Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Chhattisgarh has a B-200 plane and an Agusta Power helicopter purchased from Italy for $6.5 million in 2007. An earlier state government chopper had crashed into a hillock in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
The double-engine seven-seater Agusta has a FM trans receiver system which could be used to contact the nearest police station in the event of the chopper losing contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR died on Wednesday after his chopper crashed in Nallamalla forest.