The Hindu Business Line : A tough rescue operation

Hyderabad, Sept. 3 The search and rescue operation launched to locate the chopper carrying the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was one of the biggest in the country.

Ironically, while the operation was successful in locating the ill-fated chopper in the dense, lushgreen Nallamala forest range, all the five people on board, including the Chief Minister, the pilot and the co-pilot, were found dead and their bodies charred and mutilated beyond recognition.

As it transpires, the helicopter piloted by Capt Bhatia and co-piloted by Capt M.S. Reddy, the latter who took part in anti-insurgency operations, strayed off its path by about 18 km, and crashed into a cliff in the hostile forest tracts.

Narrating the developments, the AP Chief Secretary, Mr P. Ramakanth Reddy, said the bodies were charred and in a state of getting decomposed when they were located by the commandoes. The chopper broke into pieces after the crash and caught fire, except for the tail portion.

While search operations continued with low-flying aircraft and other planes, and motor boats in the reservoir, the night hampered the rescue work. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 commandoes and policemen from various elite groups were pressed into service while the help of the local Chenchu tribes, familiar with the forest and hilly terrain, was also taken.

The rescue teams had to encounter a lot of problems and several sorties were cancelled due to inclement weather. From 6-25 a.m. on Wednesday about five choppers were pressed into service and at about 8-30 a.m. one of them spotted the crash site on the hillock.

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