Lucknow, March 7 A helicopter carrying Uttar Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Kaushambi had to make an emergency landing after it experienced a technical problem shortly after taking off from Lucknow, sources said on Saturday.
According to a BJP leader close to Maurya, the deputy chief minister was travelling to Kaushambi to attend several events.
The helicopter, carrying five people including Maurya, his aide Vivek, and two pilots, had taken off from Lucknow's La Martiniere College ground helipad when it encountered a problem.
"Smoke was noticed inside the helicopter shortly after take-off, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing at the Lucknow airport," the BJP leader said.
Party leaders suggested that Maurya was unharmed and would travel to Kaushambi later in another helicopter.
A team of experts has been dispatched to identify the causes that led to the smoke and forced the pilot to make an emergency landing.