Andhra CM, four others killed in chopper crash

Kurnool, September 3
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and four other persons were killed in the helicopter that crashed in the Nallamala Hills in bad weather yesterday losing radio contact an hour after take off from Hyderabad.

The bodies of 60-year-old Reddy, who led his Congress party to a spectacular second consecutive victory in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, and his Special Secretary P Subramanyam, Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley, pilot Group Captain SK Bhatia and co-pilot MS Reddy were found on the Rudrakonda hill, 40 nautical miles east of here, besides the mangled remains of the helicopter.

There was no official confirmation of the deaths, but highly placed Congress sources in Delhi said that the bodies had been found. An official statement is expected shortly.

A scheduled meeting of the Union Cabinet was cancelled following the tragedy. —PTI