Nallamala Forest ! Nallamala Forest News ! Nallamala Forest Map

Following is the blow by blow account of the missing helicopter of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy:

• 08:35 AM - Twin-engine Bell 430 AP government helicopter carrying the Chief Minister takes off from old Begumpet airport.

• The helicopter, also carrying Chief Minister's Principal Secretary S Subramanyam and Chief Security Officer A S C Wesley, heads for Chitoor district.

• 09:35 AM - Helicopter, flown by two pilots, loses contact while possibly flying over Nallamala forest ranges, a stronghold of the Naxalites, in the Rayalaseema region.

• Prime Minister's Office, Union Home Ministry and Defence Ministry alerted. Office of Congress President Sonia Gandhi in touch with the state government.

• Four helicopters, including three belonging to IAF pressed into search operations, but no contact established because of strong winds and inclement weather.

• Two helicopters from Hakimpet air command in Secunderabad return because of inclement weather, while three from Bangalore air command and one privatehelicopter from Nellore were involved in search operations.

• An unmanned aerial vehicle from the Defence Ministry also pressed into service.

• 04:00 PM - Finance Minister K Rosaiah addresses press conference to say no word on the Chief Minister.

• Time for carrying out search operations running out as sunset approaches.

• Home Minister P Chidambaram personally monitoring the situation in Delhi.

• Congress President Sonia Gandhi expresses concern in Delhi over the disappearance of the helicopter and monitors the developments.