The helicopter had disappeared on Wednseday morning. The army commandos recovered the Bell chopper and the five bodies in Karnool district. The news of YSR's accidental death has caused gloom in AP and rest of the country.
Reddy, a senior Congress leader, was one of the most dynamic Chief Ministers in the country and had played an important role in leading his party to second consecutive victory in the state elections recently.
The Chief Minister was on his way from Hyderabad to Chittur for an official function when the helicopter lost radio contact due to bad weather. The helicopter had crashed in the Nallamala forests.
A doctor by profession, YSR had a strong understanding of the political climate and struck a chord with the rural voters. Braving the anti-incumbency, he had swept the elections, defeating the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP. Before Sixty year old Reddy, several Congress leaders including Madhavrao Scindia and Rajesh Pilot had also died in accidents.
TIH Bureau