YSR dead in chopper crash, succession race begins
YSR's body will be taken to Pulivendula, his native town, where he will be cremated with state honours.
By Agencies |
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was today found dead amid the debris of a helicopter that went missing yesterday before crashing into a hilltop and exploding, bringing to a tragic end the life of a charismatic Congress leader.
The charred body of 60-year-old Reddy and those of four others who also died in the crash were traced this morning after nearly 24 hours of massive aerial and ground search operations in dense forests in Kurnool district after the helicopter went missing at around 9.30 AM, about an hour after take-off from here for Chittoor.
The others who died were his Principal Secretary K Subramanyam, Chief Security Officer A S C Wesley and pilot Group Captain S K Bhatia and co pilot M S Reddy.
Hours later, an intense race for succession began with supporters of the late leader pushing for his son Jagan Mohan Reddy, a first-time member of Lok Sabha, as the next Chief Minister.
77-year-old Finance Minister K Rosaiah, a veteran leader, was sworn in as Chief Minister as "interim arrangement" for fulfilling Constitutional obligations.
The helicopter, which was headed for Chittoor, about 600 km in the southern end of the state, deviated 18 km from its regular path towards east near Rudrakoduru in the Nallamala ranges in Kurnool district in rain and bad weather.
The cause of the mishap was not known and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel ordered a probe.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will go to Andhra Pradesh tomorrow following the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Tens of thousands of people, from all walks of life, came out on the streets of Hyderabad to mourn and pay their last respects Rajsekhara Reddy.
Traffic was brought to a virtual standstill in the city as mourners and supporters desperately sought to pay their last respects to the departed leader.
The dead chief minister's body will lie in state at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium from Friday morning till about 1 p.m. to allow the general public and the political leadership to pay their last respects. It will then be flown to his native village in Cuddapah District for final rites.
The charred body of 60-year-old Reddy and those of four others who also died in the crash were traced this morning after nearly 24 hours of massive aerial and ground search operations in dense forests in Kurnool district after the helicopter went missing at around 9.30 AM, about an hour after take-off from here for Chittoor.
The others who died were his Principal Secretary K Subramanyam, Chief Security Officer A S C Wesley and pilot Group Captain S K Bhatia and co pilot M S Reddy.
Hours later, an intense race for succession began with supporters of the late leader pushing for his son Jagan Mohan Reddy, a first-time member of Lok Sabha, as the next Chief Minister.
77-year-old Finance Minister K Rosaiah, a veteran leader, was sworn in as Chief Minister as "interim arrangement" for fulfilling Constitutional obligations.
The helicopter, which was headed for Chittoor, about 600 km in the southern end of the state, deviated 18 km from its regular path towards east near Rudrakoduru in the Nallamala ranges in Kurnool district in rain and bad weather.
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The cause of the mishap was not known and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel ordered a probe.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will go to Andhra Pradesh tomorrow following the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Tens of thousands of people, from all walks of life, came out on the streets of Hyderabad to mourn and pay their last respects Rajsekhara Reddy.
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Traffic was brought to a virtual standstill in the city as mourners and supporters desperately sought to pay their last respects to the departed leader.
The dead chief minister's body will lie in state at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium from Friday morning till about 1 p.m. to allow the general public and the political leadership to pay their last respects. It will then be flown to his native village in Cuddapah District for final rites.
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