Charting the route YSR took – where did the chopper go?

A blow by blow account of the missing helicopter of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Following is the blow by blow account of the missing helicopter of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy:

08:35 AM – Twin-engine Bell 430 AP government helicopter carrying the Chief Minister takes off from old Begumpet airport.

The helicopter,also carrying Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary S Subramanyam and Chief Security Officer A S C Wesley,heads for Chitoor district.

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09:35 AM – Helicopter,flown by two pilots,loses contact while possibly flying over Nallamala forest ranges,a stronghold of the Naxalites,in the Rayalaseema region.

Prime Minister’s Office,Union Home Ministry and Defence Ministry alerted. Office of Congress President Sonia Gandhi in touch with the state government.

Four helicopters,including three belonging to IAF pressed into search operations,but no contact established because of strong winds and inclement weather.

Two helicopters from Hakimpet air command in Secunderabad return because of inclement weather,while three from Bangalore air command and one privatehelicopter from Nellore were involved in search operations.

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An unmanned aerial vehicle from the Defence Ministry also pressed into service.

04:00 PM – Finance Minister K Rosaiah addresses press conference to say no word on the Chief Minister.

Time for carrying out search operations running out as sunset approaches.

Home Minister P Chidambaram personally monitoring the situation in Delhi.

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Congress President Sonia Gandhi expresses concern in Delhi over the disappearance of the helicopter and monitors the developments.

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