NEW DELHI: A powerful south Indian politician has been killed in a helicopter crash in a densely forested area in Andhra Pradesh state, a cabinet minister said Wednesday.

Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state, and four senior colleagues who have been missing for more than 24 hours have been found dead, the minister told AFP, asking not to be named because the news had not been officially announced.

"It is a great loss for the people and the Congress party", he said.