Hyderabad, Sep 2nd: A helicopter carrying Andhra Chief Minister, Y.S Raja Shekar Reddy and others went missing on Wednesday in the dense Nallamala forest since 9.27am. The CM had taken off from the Begumpet airport at 8.35am to go to Chittoor to launch his Rachabanda program to talk to drought affected farmers and quell their fears. He was accompanied by his secretary and chief security officer. After 9.27am, radio contact was lost with the helicopter. This was when the chopper entered the thickly forested, Naxalite-infested Nallamalla hill range.

The heavy rain and zero visibility in the Nalamlla forest, an extension of Eastern Ghats, are making the search operations difficult, officials said. Large parts of the forest are also flooded because of the overflowing Srisailam reservoir. Officials also said that the metrological department's predictions for the day included heavy rain and lightning.

Andhra Pradesh finance minister A Rosaiah said at a press conference that no contact has been established with the chief minister's chopper. Search and rescue operations are still on, he said. The state is coordinating with central agencies in Delhi to locate the CM's chopper. The PM's office is also in touch with the state government. Several helicopters have left for search operations, he added.