Andhra CM YSR Reddy dies in chopper crash
September 3rd, 2009 - 2:08 pm ICT by IBNSNew Delhi/Hyderabad, Sept 3 (IBNS) The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Thursday confirmed that Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajashekhar Reddy has died in a chopper crash near Kurnool district.
The Bell 430 helicopter carrying Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajashekhar Reddy, two of his staff and two pilots went missing in pouring rain Wednesday morning over the Naxal and tiger-infested Nalamalla forests and with no contact until early Thursday.
The army found five bodies and remains of the burnt aircraft in the Nallamalla forest near Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district.
“Andhra CM YSR Reddy, Principal Secretary S Subramanyam, Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley and two pilots - Group Captain SK Bhatia and Captain MS Reddy, have died in the air crash,” said the PMO.
An Indian Air Force helicopter located the crashed Bell 430 aircraft on top of Serai Salem hill at a distance of 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Kurnool Thursday.
Andhra Pradesh Governor ND Tiwari said: “This is the saddest moment of my whole career. I am going to the site…I am not in a state to talk.”
“I am shocked. All I was expecting was his safe landing. But this is one of the biggest losses in political history,” said senior TDP leader Yerran Naidu.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi will be visiting Hyderabad shortly to condole the death of Reddy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may also visit Hyderabad to pay his last respect to Reddy.
Former Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury said: Reddy was a hand on Chief Minister. He was a true Congress man. It will be difficult to replace him.”
Meanwhile, according to Times Now, state Finance Minister K Rosaiah may take over Reddy as the interim Chief Minister.
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