Karnataka CM has close shave as his helicopter forcelands

PTI

CHAMARAJANAGAR, May 27: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had a close shave on Sunday when his helicopter forcelanded in strong wind and rain at Hallikare tank bund in the district, a senior police official said.

"The Chief Minister is safe", Chamarajanagar district Superintendent of Police Srikantappa said.

He said strong wind and rain forced the helicopter to land.

Official sources said the helicopter flying from Udupi landed some 50 metres away from a field which was slushy and the Chief Minister had to spend more than an hour in the chopper.

"The pilot showed a great sense of alertness", sources said. The Chief Minister was apparently shaken, they said.

Srikantaiah said the chopper later took off and landed at Vadgerehalli from where the Chief Minister proceeded by road to B R Hills. The helicopter then proceeded to Mysore without the Chief Minister.

Kumaraswamy is beginning his visit to Chamarajanagar district, becoming the first Chief Minister in the last 16 years to undertake the trip to the place.

A belief that a Chief Minister would lose power within six months after a visit to Chamarajnagar had kept away his predecessors for the last 16 years. S R Bommai and late Veerendra Patil had lost Chief Ministership within six months of their visit to Chamarajanagar.

Sources said the family of Kumaraswamy, including his brother and minister H D Revanna, had advised him against the visit.