Sonia Gandhi takes security by surprise by changing route

Security personnel were taken by surprise today when the cavalcade of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on way to her Lok Sabha constituency Raebareli, deviated from its route and entered the capital city.

Gandhi landed at Amausi Airport this morning and was heading to Raebareli for a three-day visit, when she made an unannounced trip to the Indira Gandhi Eye hospital in Kaiserbagh area in Lucknow.

The escort vehicles of the state police deployed for providing security to the SPG protectee were not aware of the change in Gandhi's route.

"We were not informed about Gandhi's entry in the city," SSP Dhruv Kant Thakur said.

ADG security KL Meena said he would take up the matter at an appropriate forum after receiving a report in this regard from the district police.

During her visit to the hospital, Gandhi met patients and inquired about the facilities they were getting.

On being told by a patient that they were asked to pay Rs100 instead of Rs6 for treatment in the hospital, Gandhi asked the hospital authorities to look into the complaint.

After visiting the hospital, Gandhi headed to her constituency, where she will interact with the people and assess the development schemes being launched by the Centre.