President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee’s aircraft going to Chennai to attend Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s last rites returned to Delhi due to technical snag. President will again embark on the journey.

Within 30 minutes of take-off from the Palam Technical Area, the aircraft developed a technical problem and returned to base, sources said.

Officials had said that, it will take 40 minutes to one hour for the President to be airborne again.

Remembering the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, the President called Jayalalithaa “one of India’s most charismatic and popular leaders” and a “visionary and able administrator”.

“Her life was dedicated to the socio-economic transformation of Tamil Nadu and its people. In her passing away, the nation has lost an icon who was loved and admired by millions. Her contribution to the progress and development of Tamil Nadu will be long remembered,” he said.

By Premji