YSR's chopper traced 74 kms from Kurnool: Army

Hyderabad, Sep 3: Media reports revealed that army said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy's chopper was found 40 kilometres from Kurnool though the condition of the survivors and the helicopter was not confirmed.

Search began in the Nallamalla forests and hills stretching across Kurnool, Prakasam and Kadapa districts on Thursday, Sep 3, early morning.

Poor visibility and bad weather conditions had thwarted the rescue operations on Wednesday, Sep 2, night. But state police and 5,000 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) continued the search on foot throughout the night with aid of forest officials.

Andhra's Greyhound commandos, raised to fight Naxals, specialised anti-terrorist force Organisation for Counter Terrorism and Operations (Octopus) teams and newly-formed anti-Naxal force Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra) were also appointed for the operation with the assistance of a Bangalore army column.

Three Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters from Bangalore were sent while one private helicopter from Nellore was also trying to spot the missing YSYR

Satellite imagery was being used to trace the missing helicopter. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO also provided special low flying aircraft and remote sensing equipment.

However, the presence of Naxals, bad weather, the topography and poor communication made it difficult for the rescue team to conduct their search.

OneIndia News