Chartered plane to fly Dera chief back

A senior official detailed the costs involved in the operation. The state government could end up spending around Rs 90 lakh. The company is charging a concessional rate of around Rs 3.5 lakh per hour for the total 20-hour round trip. That adds up to Rs 70 lakh. Overflying charges will come to around 12,000 or Rs 6 lakh. Besides,there are some other charges, the official said.

Other expenses include transport in Vienna and euro 160 for a nights stay in a hotel for the three-member team of D S Guru,principal secretary to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,Dr Rahul Sharma of Sangrur Civil Hospital and a pharmacist.

The Challenger 850 is one of the largest business jets available,and can fly at up to 850 km/hr. Itll stop for an hour to refuel,probably in Jordan,both while going and returning from Vienna.

Sant Niranjan Dasss private doctor and a few followers will be on the return flight,which is expected to be full. Some packed food will be stored on board, said an official.

After landing in New Delhi,Guru will accompany the injured Dera chief and the body of his deputy to Jalandhar in an Indian Air Force helicopter. Sant Ramanand will be cremated at 3.30 pm on June 4 at Ballan,the Deras headquarters near Jalandhar.