Missing CM's chopper: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister to address media(Lead:AP CM)

Hyderabad, Sep.2 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K. Rosaiah will address a press conference at 4 p.m. here, during which he will provide an update on the whereabouts of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajshekhar Reddy.

Rosiah's briefing comes in the wake of Andhra Pradesh Police continuing their search for the missing chopper of the chief minister.

According to police sources, a civilian copter, air force helicopters and the army has been pushed in to the search operation.

Panic was created around Wednesday noon as Reddy was reported untraceable for nearly four hours.

Reddy was on his way to Chitoor, by chopper which initial reports said had made an emergency landing near Kurnool due to inclement weather.

The chopper took off at 8.45 a.m. for Chitoor and was scheduled to arrive here at 10.45 a.m, sources said.

The chopper was said to have landed in the middle a of thick forest, said to be affected by Maoist activities.

The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed receiving a message of the emergency landing of the chopper, but nothing thereafter.

Till now, no one has confirmed the movements of Reddy.

The Union Home Ministry is monitoring the search operations, as Kurnool is a Naxal affected area.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources said the chopper went off the radar due to heavy rains.

The CMO maintains there is no need to worry as the area has no mobile connectivity. (ANI)