Still recovering from the shock of the death of Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash, Andhra Pradesh is limping back to normalcy. After remaining shut for two days, schools, colleges, offices, shops and business establishments re-opened on Saturday while public transport returned to the roads.
However, life is yet to fully return to normal, especially in YSR's native district Kadapa and other parts of Rayalaseema. His millions of supporters are still mourning the loss.
Over 100 people have died of shock or committed suicide since Thursday when the body of their beloved leader was found in the dense Nallamalla forests of southern Andhra Pradesh forests along with that of four others.
A day after the burial of YSR in his family estate in Kadapa district, the mood across the Andhra Pradesh remains sombre as the seven-day state mourning is on. Ruling Congress party leaders are holding condolence meetings in almost every town and village to pay tributes to the man who ruled their hearts for over five years as the chief minister.
In state capital Hyderabad and other major towns, educational institutions re-opened after two days. Buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation, taxis and auto rickshaws returned to the roads.
{{/usCountry}}In state capital Hyderabad and other major towns, educational institutions re-opened after two days. Buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation, taxis and auto rickshaws returned to the roads.
{{/usCountry}}Government offices, banks, petrol pumps, shops and other business establishments re-opened too.
YSR, his special secretary, chief security officer and two pilots were killed when the helicopter carrying them from Hyderabad to Chittoor crashed in bad weather in Nallamalla forests in Kurnool district on Wednesday morning. The charred bodies and the wreckage of the chopper were found the next day after one of the biggest search operations by Indian Air Force helicopters.