Soundarya among 4 dead in crash

An Indian movie star campaigning in polls was among four people killed when their helicopter crashed after takeoff near Bangalore.

An Indian movie star campaigning in upcoming elections was among four people killed Saturday when their helicopter crashed after takeoff near the southern city of Bangalore, police said.

Actress Soundarya, a leading light in Telugu-language cinema, was travelling to the adjoining state of Andhra Pradesh on a campaign stop when the privately owned helicopter crashed, a police spokesman said.

The four-seater helicopter caught fire minutes after takeoff from Jakkur airstrip on the outskirts of Bangalore, the spokesman said. The bodies were charred beyond recognition.

Investigations were under way to determine what started the fire.

Soundarya had recently joined Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which is vying for another term in national elections that start Tuesday.