Chopper makes emergency landing at B'luru after bird hit; Karnataka CM safe

Bengaluru: A helicopter carrying Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suffered a bird hit and made an emergency landing at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru on Sunday shortly after take-off, a police official said.

Siddaramaiah and four others, including Home Minister G Parameshwara who were also on board, were safe, Assistant Commissioner of Police P Nagesha Kumar said.

The chopper did not suffer any damage in the bird hit, he said. He also said, the Chief Minister and others left for Shravanabelogala in Hassan district as scheduled by the same helicopter a few minutes later after clearance, adding, they landed at the destination.

Siddaramaiah was on an official visit to Shravanabelogala to launch developmental schemes for "Mahamasthakabhisheka", a once in a 12-year event at the Jain pilgrimage centre scheduled for February 2018.

Mahamasthakabhisheka is the anointment of the 57-foot-high monolithic statue of Jain deity Lord Gommateshwara, also known as Bahubali, located on Vindyagiri at Shravanabelogala.