Bhubaneswar: Concerned over the vulnerable situation in flood-hit areas in the State, former Parliamentarian Baijayant Jay Panda again took to Twitter today and appealed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to direct the police to unseal the hangar and release at least two of the three helicopters so that those can be used for relief and rescue operations underway in several districts.

Panda wrote, “Again appealing to @Naveen_Odisha for police to unseal the Bhubaneswar hangar whr 3 helicopters are idle (at least release the 2 against which thr are no allegations!) & use them free of cost for rescue & relief in inaccessible areas.”

Let us not have any more unnecessary deaths, he added.

Earlier on Sunday, the senior leader, in another tweet had mentioned that the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the alleged flying of one of his choppers over Chilika and neither the government nor the State police has rights to do so on aviation issues

The State government or police cannot seal the hangar based on allegations of violation of aviation rules since they have no authority to investigate the matters concerning aviation, Panda had said.

The response of the senior leader came after the Odisha government decided to deploy additional ODRAF and NDRF teams to assist the ongoing relief and rescue operations in Gajapati district that has witnessed extensive damage in the flash floods triggered by cyclonic storm Titli.

According to many senior scribes, there were no records of Panda’s chopper being used for rescue and relief operation in the past. This plea may be meant to gain public sympathy for him.

Many also question whether  the CM has the authority to interfere in a criminal case and release the accused persons and their belonging.

Commenting on the photograph of Panda’s chopper loaded with relief material;s many ask how was it possible to load the helicopter with relief materials when it has been sealed in the hanger .