Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to West Bengal’s Nadia district ran into unexpected trouble on Friday after dense fog and poor visibility forced his helicopter to abort its landing at the Taherpur helipad. Officials confirmed that the aircraft hovered over the helipad but had to turn back to Kolkata airport due to unsafe weather conditions.

PM Modi had landed in Kolkata around 10:40 am and was slated to fly to Taherpur to inaugurate major highway projects and address a BJP rally titled Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha. However, persistent fog disrupted the aerial movement, prompting authorities to reassess travel options.

Sources said the Prime Minister remained at the Kolkata airport while officials evaluated whether visibility would improve enough for another helicopter attempt. Alternatives such as road travel or a virtual address were also being considered. The road journey, spanning nearly 100 kilometres, posed logistical and time-related challenges.

Despite the uncertainty, enthusiasm among BJP supporters remained high. Large crowds gathered at the Taherpur rally venue from early morning, hoping to hear the Prime Minister in person. As attendance surged beyond expectations, security personnel temporarily restricted entry at the venue to manage the crowd.

The Taherpur event holds political significance, as PM Modi was expected to signal the formal launch of the BJP’s campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He was also likely to address issues concerning the Matua community and counter the Trinamool Congress narrative on citizenship-related matters.

With weather conditions continuing to pose challenges, officials are closely monitoring visibility levels before taking a final call. For now, thick fog remains the biggest hurdle, casting uncertainty over one of the BJP’s key political moments in West Bengal ahead of the high-stakes 2026 polls.