Fire at helipad during CM’s visit to Kollur; actor Rishab Shetty join Bommai at temple

UDUPI: In a major security scare, a fire broke out at the helipad in Areshirur where the helicopter in which Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was travelling was supposed to land, on Thursday. The CM was on his way to the Mookambika temple at Kollur.

The fire was noticed just after the CM’s escort team had left and quickly spread in the dry grass, fanned by the helicopter’s rotor blades as it was preparing to land. The Byndoor Fire and Emergency Services personnel at the helipad quickly put out the fire.

The CM met actor-director Rishab Shetty at the Kollur Mookambika temple.

The CM, accompanied by his wife Chennamma, then proceeded to the Kollur Mookambika temple where they offered prayers. The CM was joined by actor-director Rishab Shetty.

“It was coincidental that I met Rishab Shetty. He was here before I arrived and we offered prayers together. His ideology is close to our party ideology and he has spoken out about his thoughts on a couple of occasions. We have not had any discussion on having him as a star campaigner, but let’s see what will happen in the coming days”, the CM said.

On Mudigere MLA M P Kumaraswamy’s resignation from the party, Bommai said the decision on candidates was taken based on survey reports and added that he would speak to Kumaraswamy and retain him in the party. He also said the four new names announced for Udupi district is not an experiment and added that strong candidates have been chosen.

During his visit, the CM was accompanied by Kota Srinivas Poojary and Pramod Madhwaraj while the five incumbent MLA from the district, including Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar, MLAs Raghupathi Bhat, Haladi Srinivas Shetty and Kaup Lalaji Mendon, who are sulking over being denied tickets, chose to keep away.