Political Diary

The body of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was killed in a helicopter crash, was brought to the state capital on Thursday evening. The Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carrying YSR's body landed at the old airport at Begumpet. State ministers and senior leaders of the ruling Congress received the casket at the airport. It was then taken to the chief minister's camp office, where his family members and close relatives and friends were present. The bodies of YSR's Special Secretary P. Subrahmanyam, chief security officer A.S.C. Wesley and pilots S.K. Bhatia and M.S. Reddy were also being brought here before being sent to their respective home towns. Earlier, the bodies were brought from the crash site in Nallamalla forests to Kurnool town, where an autopsy was conducted. Since the bodies were charred beyond recognition and were decomposed, the military personnel had a tough time in air lifting them from the crash site. A team of forensic experts conducted the autopsy on the remains of the five and the caskets were later kept in an IAF helicopter for taking them to Hyderabad. YSR's body will be kept at the Lal Bahadur Stadium from 10 a.m. Friday for people to pay homage. It will be then taken to his native Pulivendula town in Kadapa district for state funeral.