Hyderabad, September 03: The chief minister’s body has arrived at Hyderabad Airport. The dead body of the CM was taken to his residence right from the Begumpet Airport this late evening. The Government has planned to keep the YSR’dead body from 9 am to 1 pm tomorrow, at Lal Bahadur Stadium for public viewing. He will then be taken to his village, Pulivendula, for last rites.
YSR Reddy and four other people were killed when their helicopter crashed in the dense jungles of southern India during a pounding rainstorm, media reported. The body of the Chief Minister arrived in Hyderabad.
The helicopter carrying Andhra Pradesh state Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy, 60, lost contact with air traffic controllers Wednesday morning as heavy rains pelted the region, setting off a frantic 24-hour search operation involving the army, air force and police in an area infested with Maoist rebels.
On Thursday morning, commandoes and police finally reached the site of the crash after hacking through the jungles and found the bodies of all five people who had been on the aircraft, including Reddy, Press Trust of India reported, quoting officials from the ruling Congress Party.
Television also reported that five bodies had been found at the site about 170 miles (275 kilometers) south of the state capital, Hyderabad. There was no immediate official confirmation of Reddy’s death.
On Thursday, rescue teams crossing dense jungle and hilly terrain on foot reached the site, 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the nearest village, Rudrakodur.
There was no immediate indication that the helicopter was shot down.
The privately owned helicopter took off from Hyderabad and lost contact with air traffic controllers about 45 minutes into the flight.
Reddy, who was on an inspection tour of various rural social welfare programs, was accompanied by a Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley,his Principal Secretary Subramanyam, Group Captain Bhatia and Co-Pilot MS Reddy.
Reddy, who belongs to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ruling Congress Party, had won a second term in office in elections held this year.
The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, have been fighting for more than three decades in several Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, demanding land and jobs for agricultural laborers and the poor.
– The chopper took off at 8.45 am for Chittoor and was scheduled to arrive at 10.45 am. Earlier reports suggested that the chopper had landed in the middle of thick forest, said to be affected by the Maoist activities.
– Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources said the chopper went off the radar due to heavy rains. The helicopter lost contact with Air Traffic Controller at the Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad and since then there has not been any contact with the Chief Minister.
– The air-search operations began at 6.00 to 6.30 on Thursday morning and there are reports of YSR’s chopper being located. There is no news of survivors yet.
–Agencies