Minor fire in Karnataka Chief Minister's helicopter before take-off

Bengaluru: 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 K J George and PWD Minister H C 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 here, 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.