YSR, Chief Minister of India's Andhra Pradesh Missing

An official noted that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been pressed into service as of Wednesday afternoon, joining the search for Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S.R. Reddy. Four helicopters are involved, according to reports.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Ramakant Reddy said they lost contact with CM Y.S.R. Reddy at approximately 9:45 AM. Weather may have had an effect, as bad weather was reported on Wednesday morning.

CM Y.S.R. Reddy is quite popular, and is nicknamed YSR by followers and admirers. Congressional leaders and others stood outside the D block in the secretariat, which houses the Chief Minister's Office in support of him on Wednesday.

Crowds raised signed with the slogans "Long live YSR" on them. Calm washed over the crowd when state ministers told reporters that the chief minister was safe and his chopper had landed somewhere.

Unfortunately, that was reversed shortly thereafter, as news came out that in fact CM Y.S.R. Reddy or YSR is still missing from finance minister K. Rosaiah.

Rosaiah told reporters at the secretariat that the chief minister remained untraced, and appealed to people to help trace the missing helicopter. At the same time, people remain confident that CM Y.S.R. Reddy or YSR is safe. One said: "I am confident that he is safe. He is people's man. He did a lot for the welfare of people. Nothing will happen to him."