Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy's death, just months after a brilliant victory in the elections, has taken everyone by shock.
In the state, which is observing two days of mourning, his death has united his supporters as well as his political rivals.
During the last 24 hours, the mob of supporters gathered at the Chief Minister's residence had hoped their prayers would be answered. And their CM will return safe.
But YRS, last seen leaving for a surprise visit to a village near Chittoor on Wednesday along with his Chief Secretary Dr Subramaniam and personal security officer A S C Wesley, died a tragic death after his chopper crashed over the Nalamalla forest area.
As the confirmation of YSR's death came in, Congress MPs and MLAs mourned the loss of their leader, crying in front of the Secretariat. For YRS was a Chief Minister loved by his people and respected by his rivals.
"The death of YSR is a severe loss to the state," Praja Rajyam leader Chiranjeevi said.
"In our 31 years of friendship with his family, we may politically be rivals but we were friends individually," TDP leader and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu said.
Almost spontaneously, processions to remember YSR started. It was a time for the final farewell. All of YSR's family has come to Hyderabad.
The Prime Minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi are also there. YSR's body will be at his residence on Thursday and from 9 am to 1 pm on Friday, it will be kept at the Lal Bahadur stadium before being taken to his native village.