Chopper crash: Grief at homes of pilots, 2 officers

HYDERABAD: The outpouring of grief in Andhra Pradesh today after the death of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash was no less intense for the other four occupants of the ill-fated chopper including the two pilots.

Besides Reddy, the twin-engined Bell-430 helicopter flown by pilots Group Captain S K Bhatia and Captain M S Reddy was also carrying his Principal Secretary P Subramanyam and Chief Security Officer ASC John Wesley.

A pall of gloom descended at Wesley's residence as scores of relatives, friends and colleagues of the police officer started gathering at his residence in Shantinagar colony after hearing the tragic news. Ministers P. Sudarshan Reddy and Konda Surekha also visited his home.

Wesley (44) is survived by wife, a 10-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter.

The police officer's neighbours at Jyothi Sai Ganesh apartments where Wesley resides described him as "soft spoken" and always smiling.

Indian Air Force personnel made a beeline to the house of Group Captain Bhatia, who was Reddy's personal pilot, at the Sylvan Greens Township here to console the bereaved family.

Bhatia's wife is reported to be in a state of shock and not allowing even close relatives to speak to her. Two constables from Bollarum Police Station have been posted to control the crowd.

Rural Development Minister V. Vasanthakumar and MLC Indrasen Reddy visited the bereaved family. Besides his wife, Bhatia is also survived by his two sons.

Co-pilot M S Reddy's residence at Vidyanagar was also a scene of gloom as his family members were in deep shock.