The funeral of the Indian politician killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday is set to take place in the state of Andhra Pradesh, police say. The wreckage of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s helicopter was found on a hill on Thursday, a day after it disappeared.
Four others died in the crash.
Mr Reddy, 60, was an influential politician from the Congress party. He was elected for a second term in state elections earlier this year.
The federal government has announced a state funereal for Mr Reddy in his hometown of Pulivendla in Kadapa district.
Thousands of supporters of Mr Reddy, who led a Congress party government in Andhra Pradesh, gathered outside his house in the state capital, Hyderabad, to mourn the death.
The Congress party has appointed his low-profile finance minister K Rosaiah as his successor, but finding a permanent replacement will be difficult, our correspondent says.
Some party supporters have been demanding that Mr Reddy’s son, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, should be appointed as the new chief minister.
The state government has announced a week-long mourning period during which the national flag will be flown at half mast, and no “official” entertainment programmes will be organised.
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the helicopter crash, officials said.
Thursday’s discovery of the helicopter on a hill some 70km (43 miles) east of Kurnool follows a massive search and rescue operation launched by the state government.
The Bell helicopter carrying Mr Reddy went missing more than an hour before it was due to land.