Andhra CM Rajasekhara Reddy killed in crash, bodies recovered

HYDERABAD - Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has been killed, officials in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMAndhra CM Y.S. O) confirmed Thursday, more than 24 hours after his helicopter went missing in a densely forested Maoist stronghold of the state. “The bodies have been recovered. They will be taken to Hyderabad for post mortem,” a PMO official in Delhi told IANS.

Helicopters, search parties and villagers had conducted the search in pouring rain for a whole day and night in the forested hinterland for the wreckage, which was finally located about 40 nautical miles east of Kurnool town.

The 60-year-old chief minister, popularly known as YSR, was going to Chittoor, 588 km from this state capital, for a function when his helicopter went missing in inclement weather around 9.30 a.m. Wednesday in the Nallamalla forests.

With YSR, who this May steered the Congress to a second stint in power, was his special secretary and his security officer, besides two pilots.

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