IAF locates Andhra CM's chopper near Kurnool

CNN-IBN

Thu, Sep 03, 2009 at 09:47 in Politics section

SOME TRACE: IAF helicopters have located YS Rajashekhara Reddy's chopper on the top of a hill.


Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy's helicopter has been located on top of a hill about 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Kurnool at a place called Rollapenta.

CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief reports that government sources have claimed that the helicopter had crash landed and was completely burnt.

“There is almost no chance of any survivors,” reports Rajdeep.

Earlier, Indian Air Force officer Air Commodore Sagar Bharati of the Bangalore Air Command, who is monitoring the search and rescue operation, confirmed that IAF helicopters have located the helicopter but he refused to say if the chopper had crashed or was in good condition.

"Chief Minister's helicopter has been located. It is on top of a hill 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Kurnool. We are trying to find out if there are survivors. Air Force helicopters are over the location. We are not sure if it has crashed," said Air Commodore Sagar Bharati.

"Two helicopters are orbiting at the site. Air Force helicopter are trying to land because the helicopter is on the top of the hill, it's a jungle so it is difficult to land," the Air Commodore said.

Union Home Ministry sources confirmed that Andhra Chief Minister's helicopter has been located 40 nautical miles east of Kurnool.

The sources said that as a rescue helicopter had problem in landing on a hilltop, so another helicopter has been sent with commandos who will slither down and see whether there are any survivors.