After bird hit, CM's chopper makes emergency landing

A helicopter ferrying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara made an emergency landing after a bird hit at the HAL airport here on Monday morning.

Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara were on-board along with two others, when an alert pilot suspected a technical snag soon after the helicopter took off and decided to land it for an inspection. The leaders were on their way to Shravanabelagola in Hassan district to launch various developmental works for organising Bahubali Mahamastakabhisheka to be held in February 2018.

There was an abnormal sound mid-air soon after the helicopter took off and the pilot landed it immediately. Soon after, a thorough inspection of every part including propellers and the engine was conducted by the pilot. He then concluded it was a bird hit. After a few minutes, Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara were flown in the same helicopter to Sharavanabelagola.

The chief minister’s office later tweeted: “Thanks to alert pilot, major tragedy averted after a bird hit the helicopter in which @CMofKarnataka was flying to #Shravanabelagola.”

Mastakabhisheka works launched
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday launched development works worth Rs 72 crore related to the Bahubali Mahamastakabhisheka at Shravanabelagola. He said the government had allocated
Rs 175 crore for the event in addition to the Rs 274 crore earmarked for laying of roads and other works. He would meet the prime minister to seek additional funds for the festival.