YSR is dead, says Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had been killed in a helicopter crash, Home Minister P. Chidambaram formally announced Thursday.

Chidamabaram, who was supervising the massive search operation for the missing Bell 430 helicopter since it went missing Wednesday morning, told reporters that he was officially announcing the death of YSR, as the chief minister was widely known.

“We are in deep mourning,” he said, describing YSR, who led the Congress to a spectacular election victory in May this year, as “a tall leader”.

“… We send our condolences to the families of YSR and the other four (who died in the helicopter crash).”

Chidambaram said the helicopter had crashed on a hillock in Kurnool district but “it is not possible to say why it crashed. All that will have to dealt with later”.