Officials say a helicopter carrying a powerful Indian politician has disappeared in bad weather as it flew over a forested region infested with Maoist rebels, according to a report of The Associated Press. K. Roshaiah, finance minister of southern Andhra Pradesh state, says air force helicopters have rushed to the area to search for the aircraft carrying Y.S.R. Reddy, the 60-year-old chief minister of the state. Roshaiah spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon about six hours into the search, saying authorities had few clues. «Our helicopters are still searching,» says Ramakant Reddy, a top state government official. Roshaiah says the helicopter took off from Hyderabad, the state capital, and lost contact with air traffic controllers about 45 minutes into the flight.
