Thankful for saving his life, MP CM extends birthday wishes to lady pilot

INDORE: A 26-year-old woman pilot, whose expertise in manoeuvring a helicopter apparently saved the life of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday, was in for a surprise on Tuesday when Chouhan wished her happy birthday at an election rally in Ratlam.
Chouhan extended birthday greetings to Sonal Verma, the young pilot from Jabalpur, before thousands of people at a rally at Sarvan village in Ratlam, minutes after she dropped him at the venue.
Sonal’s piloting skills proved crucial on November 15 when she made a safe landing at Birmani village with Chouhan in the helicopter after skirting electric poles and power lines near the helipad. The incident barely came to notice of people who had gathered to welcome the chief minister. Highlighting the significance of the girl child at the poll rally, Chouhan told the gathering that his chopper was flown by a daughter of the state while exploiting the opportunity to wish Sonal on her birthday.
Talking to TOI, Sonal said, “I have been flying with chief minister for the last four days during his whistle-stop poll campaign in Jhabua. It was a wonderful birthday gift for me.” Sonal had got pilot training at Hawaii-based pilot training college in United States. “After completing my course in the US, I joined as an operation officer and helicopter pilot with Punjab government in Chandigarh. Currently, I am working with Helicharters India Private Limited,” said Verma.