President leaves Orissa for Delhi

President Pratibha Patil today left for New Delhi from the Biju Patnaik Airport here after a three-day visit to Orissa.
 
The president was seen off at the airport by Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik and senior officials, while governor MC Bhandare accompanied Patil in her return journey.
 
The president's departure was delayed by about 20 minutes in view of slight foggy conditions in the morning, official sources said.
 
Earlier in the morning, the president inaugurated a 'Cactus House' and planted a sapling in the Raj Bhavan complex, the sources said.
 
Patil's visit had caused some anxious moments last evening as the rotor blade of the MI-17 IAF helicopter carrying her and other dignitaries hit an abandoned structure while taxiing after landing at the airport here.
 
Though the chopper became unstable for a few seconds and its blades got bent, all those on board after a visit to the Sun Temple at Konark and Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri were safe.