Ghulam Nabi Azad escapes after plane's tyre bursts

Amaravati: Union Health Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Maharashtra Congress chief Manikrao Thakre and four others on Friday escaped after a tyre of the chartered plane carrying them burst while landing at Belora airstrip here.

Azad was to address rallies at Pathanpura and Old Badnera city as a part of the campaign for February 16 Amravati Municipal Corporation election.

He had come here on the invitation of Raosaheb Shekhawat, President Pratibha Patil's son and the local MLA.

According to the police, Azad, Thakre, former state minister Anis Ahmed, Congress functionary Mohan Prakash and two others boarded a Taj Air plane in Mumbai, which arrived at Belora about 1 pm.

While landing, the right tyre burst and the plane dragged on for some distance, but did not crash or overturn, they added. All the passengers were unhurt, police said.

Azad addressed the rallies later and left for Nagpur by road in the evening.

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