West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sustained a ligament injury to her left knee when the helicopter she was traveling in was forced to make an emergency landing at Sevoke Airbase near Siliguri. The incident occurred while she was campaigning for the panchayat elections in the state. Poor weather conditions necessitated the sudden landing, which subsequently led to the injury.
Following the accident, Banerjee promptly boarded a flight from Bagdogra airport to Kolkata. Upon her return to the city, she sought medical attention at the State-run SSKM Hospital. Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, the hospital’s director, confirmed that Banerjee had suffered a ligament injury to her left knee and hip joint. While doctors recommended hospital admission, the Chief Minister insisted on continuing her treatment at home. Consequently, she returned to her residence in Kalighat.
State Governor C. V. Ananda Bose reached out to Banerjee via telephone and expressed his relief that she was safe. According to his official Twitter handle, the Governor wrote, “Hon’ble Governor Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose is relieved to know that Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is safe after the emergency landing today. Dr. Bose enquired about her safety and well-being.”
This is not the first time that Banerjee has faced physical challenges while campaigning. During the 2021 Assembly polls, she sustained an injury to her left leg in Nandigram. As a result, the Chairperson of the Trinamool Congress had to campaign in a wheelchair for the duration of the eight-phase Assembly polls.
The Chenab Times News Desk