Aarti was being done at the puja pandal to commemorate "Saptami," or the seventh day of the Navratri festival, when the fire started at around 9 o'clock.
It would be "better to have a consensus candidate," according to Mallikarjun Kharge, who is thought to be the Gandhis' choice.
The 5.8-ton light combat helicopter is armoured, capable of night attacks, and has crash-worthy landing gear for increased survivability.