Venkaiah Naidu a has narrow escape

Lucknow, Apr 15: Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu had a narrow escape this afternoon as his helicopter made an emergency landing at the Amausi airport here following hydraulics snag. Mr Naidu said here that he was returning from Gorakhpur after addressing an election meeting when his helicopter developed a hydraulic problem. ''The pliot reported about the problem some 30 nautical miles from Lucknow...while landing I experienced several jerks,'' a visibly shaken Mr Naidu told reporters.

The pilot decided to make an emergency landing on a 'kuccha' land at the Amausi airport instead of the regular helipad. ''The pilot landed on mud as there was no water body to lessen the impact of the forced landing,'' Mr Naidu added.

All on board the private helicopter are reported to be safe even as an inquiry by the Civil Aviation authorities has been initiated.

UNI