By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Sept 3 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and four others were killed when their helicopter crashed on a hillock, about 74 km east of Kurnool, more than an hour it took off on Wednesday morning (8.30 am).
The charred bodies of 60-year-old Reddy and others and the wreckage of the twin-engined Bell 430 helicopter were located at 8.30 am today on a hillock.
YSR's body has been brought to Hyderabad from Kurnool after post-mortem.
The helicopter had deviated 18 km from its planned flight path. It took off from Hyderabad's Begumpet airport at approximately 8:38 am and remained in contact with the air traffic controller (ATC) in Hyderabad up to 9:13 am.
The helicopter was then supposed to switch over to communication with the Chennai ATC. It sent out signals to the Chennai ATC but lost radio contact soon after.
The helicopter appeared to have hit a tree, crashed and perhaps exploded. Chopper had deviated 18 km from its regular path. The bodies were charred and were in a state of getting decomposed because of incessant rain in the area, Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Ramakanth Reddy said.
Others who died in the crash were Special Secretary P Subramanyam, Chief Secretary A S C Wesley, pilot Group Captain S K Bhatia and co-pilot M S Reddy.
People who were with YSR
There were four more people on board the helicopter carrying Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, which went missing on Wednesday morning.
Dr P Subrahmanyam
He was the principal secretary of Andhra Pradesh and one of the seniormost IAS officers in the state. He has been working at the chief minister's office for nearly five years
Captain S.K. Bhatia
The helicopter was flying under his command. He was endorsed with the type Bell 430 in June 2007, and had flying experience of more than 5,600 hours
Captain M.S. Reddy
He was the co-pilot of the chopper. He was endorsed with the type Bell 430 in January 2009, and had more than 3,200 hours of total flying experience, says the DGCA
ASC Wesley
He was the chief security officer of the chief minister. He does not come from the IPS and joined the chief minister's office just two months ago
Kadapa to be renamed
The Andhra Cabinet decided that Kadapa district will be renamed after the late chief minister. It will be called YSR district.
Gloom descended across the state as soon as news of YSR's death came in. Shops, theatres and restaurants shut down voluntarily in many districts.
Jagan is new CM of AP
With the sudden death of YS Rajasekhara Reddy, his supporters have initiated a campaign for making his son YS Jagan Mohan Reddy the new Chief Minister amidst a hunt for the successor.
While Jagan Mohan's name was being assiduously pushed, there are some other names including those of union minister S Jaipal Reddy and APCC president B Srinivas which have also cropped up as contenders in the race.
As senior most leader K Rosaiah was today sworn-in as Chief Minister, Union Law Minister and AICC in-charge for the state Veerappa Moily said it was only an "interim arrangement".
Shortly after he was sworn-in, Rosaiah met ministers of the Reddy Cabinet informally. Party sources said they all pressed for making Jagan Mohan Reddy, a first time member of the Lok Sabha, the Chief Minister.
Nearly 10 ministers openly campaigned for Jagan Mohan Reddy to be made the Chief Minister, saying his successor should be "a person who thinks on the lines of YSE and cares for the poor."
A signature campaign is also said to have been initiated by the ruling party's Chief Whip in the Assembly B Vikramarka backing their demand.
Those, who openly pushed Jagan Mohan's case, include Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmiah, Health Minister D Nagender, Women and Child Welfare Minister K Surekha, Small Scale Industries Minister D K Aruna, Forest Minister P Ramachandra Reddy and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Mukesh Goud.
The Forest Minister even threatened to split the party if it comes to that.
Even as huge crowds of mourners collected in front of Reddy's house, some were seen displaying placards in support of Jagan Mohan as the next Chief Minister. "We want Jagan as CM," read one of them.
Congress sources said among the options being considered by the High Command is the need to choose a successor who will also be from the dominant Reddy community. And in that case, the choice has to be on whether continuing with YSR's legacy by opting for his son or go for experience.
Some sections said even Rosaiah could not be ruled out in view of his association with the party for decades and experience as Minister in various governments.
On Rosaiah being sworn in, Moily told reporters "this is only an interim arrangement to respond to certain Constitutional obligations. This arrangement will continue till the Congress Legislature Party meets and elects its new leader."
Congress sources in Delhi said the CLP meeting would be held after the mourning period.
Reddy's funeral on Friday
Reddy's funeral will take place in his hometown in Pulivendala in Kadappa district in southern Andhra Pradesh tomorrow.
A state holiday has been declared in Andhra Pradesh on Friday. Meanwhile, Punjab also has declared a two-day state mourning. Closure of government offices and educational institutions has been ordered.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Ms Sonia Gandhi are expected to go to Andhra Pradesh on Friday.
"It's a huge loss for the Congress. He was a man with a vision. All Congressmen and the people of Andhra Pradesh will remember him," said
Congress president Ms Sonia Gandhi .
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said "the Congress has lost a tall leader. YSR launched many welfare programmes for the people of Andhra Pradesh".
In Guntur district, a man committed suicide by consuming pesticide. Another man died of a heart attack in the same district after learning of YSR's death.
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