Bangalore, July 27: Janata Party working president and UB group chairman Vijay Mallya and film personality Sanjay Khan had a miraculous escape after their helicopter crashed near the helipad in Karnataka's northern district headquarters town of Bagalkote this afternoon, police said. Bagalkote district superintendent of police B A Padmanayana told pti on phone that the impact of the crash was such that the helicopter broke into two pieces.

He said wind-velocity at the time was very high. Mallya and Khan, who also spoke to a news agency on phone, said it was a providential escape. Mallya said the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which crashed from a height of an estimated around 50 feet to 100 feet.

Khan said he and Mallya received minor injuries, while two others travelling with them -- Tushita Patel and an NDTV cameraman Azmal Jany -- were also hurt. Mallya was visiting Bagalkote as part of tour of Gadag, Bagalkote and Bijapur districts to strengthen the party in the region.

Bureau Report