We are all concerned: Naidu; Moily, Chidambaram meet Sonia India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and now Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said that everyone was concerned about the missing chopper that was carrying incumbent Chief Minister Y.S. Rajshekhar Reddy. Addressing a press conference here, Naidu said: "We are all concerned. I also appeal to nearby villagers to help with the rescue. The situation is being monitored." Naidu's appeal came as the Andhra Pradesh Government revealed this afternoon that the search is still on for the seven-seater Bell chopper that was carrying Reddy towards the state's Chitoor District in inclement weather. The State Government said that bad weather, time constraints plus the dense forested area where the chopper may have landed is hampering rescue operations. It appealed to the general public to step in and help in the rescue operations along with the Indian Air Force and the Army. In Delhi, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of the Congress party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, is having a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue. He is said to have briefed Gandhi about the latest developments. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram is also meeting Sonia Gandhi. The Congress party on Wednesday held an emergency press briefing here on the issue. Party spokesman Manish Tewari told media persons that it is an evolving situation that is being closely monitored by the Central and State Governments, besides the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The party said that state government is handling a very sensitive situation as the copter is said to have landed somewhere in the forests between the three districts of Rayalseema, Prakasham and Chitoor. Tewari said that every effort was being made to resolve the situation as quickly as possible given the limited time available. He said that four Indian Air Force helicopters, one MI8 and a Dhruv chopper have been pressed into the rescue operation. Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K.Rosiah confirmed that the chopper carrying the Chief Minister had landed in a forest area and efforts were on to locate it. Addressing a news conference in Hyderabad, Rosiah said: "All state and central forces are on alert. At the moment, we are still tracing the location of the missing chopper, which has landed in the forests in the Chitoor-Nellore area. We are finding a way to reach the place." Rosiah said the state government has alerted the Union Home Ministry about the missing chopper. He said that after 9.35 a.m., contact had been lost with the chopper carrying the chief minister. Rosiah said that the Prime Minister's office as well as the offices of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Defence Minister A.K. Antony are being kept posted about the latest developments. He also issued an appeal to the public to contribute to the search effort. Rosiah's briefing came as Andhra Pradesh Police continues their search for the missing chopper. Panic was created around Wednesday noon as Reddy was reported untraceable for nearly four hours. Reddy was on his way to Chitoor, by chopper which initial reports said had made an emergency landing near Kurnool due to inclement weather. The chopper took off at 8.45 a.m. for Chitoor and was scheduled to arrive here at 10.45 a.m, sources said. The chopper was said to have landed in the middle of a thick forest, said to be affected by Maoist activities. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed receiving a message of the emergency landing of the chopper, but nothing thereafter. Till now, no one has confirmed the movements of Reddy. The Union Home Ministry is monitoring the search operations, as Kurnool is a Naxal affected area. Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources said the chopper went off the radar due to heavy rains. The CMO maintains there is no need to worry as the area has no mobile connectivity.