Fire noticed before take off in Karnataka CM's helicopter

Anxious moments gripped Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his entourage after fire was noticed just before take off in the silencer of a helicopter in which they were to fly to Mysuru on Saturday.

Siddaramaiah, Home Minister KJ George and PWD Minister HC Mahadevappa and a senior official were asked to disembark from the helicopter owned by a private aviation firm as the fire was noticed at the HAL airport in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister's office said.

A harsh sound emanated from the silencer before the fire caused by a technical glitch was noticed, as the pilots were readying for take-off, it said in a statement. The Chief Minister was going to his hometown to take part in several developmental programmes in Mysuru district after attending a Yoga campaign in Bengaluru.

Siddaramaiah later left by road for Mysuru, the statement said.