Andhra Government assistance to air crash victims

Hyderabad, Sep 5 (ANI): The Andhra Pradesh Government on Saturday announced an immediate financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of pilots of the helicopter and security officers of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, who died along in the tragic September 2 helicopter accident.

The decision was taken in a meeting headed by State's interim Chief Minister K Rosaiah.

"This amount is only an immediate ex-gratia as a measure of relief as the circumstances are very special and they were serving officers to a serving Chief Minister," Rosaiah said.

Dr P Subramanium, the special secretary to the Chief Minister; ASC Wesley, Chief Security Officer; and two pilots -Group Captain SK Bhatia and Captain MS Reddy- were killed in the crash.

Rosaiah further said that the Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy has been directed to work out a comprehensive relief package, including employment to the kith and kin of the officers.

Reddy and the officers died when their Bell 430 chopper crash-landed about 40 nautical miles east of the Kurnool mountainous area. (ANI)