New Delhi  - A powerful Indian politician died in a helicopter crash in southern India amid heavy rains, officials said Thursday, adding the wreckage of the aircraft was found in dense forest after a massive search operation.

YS Rajasekhara Reddy, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state, was killed along with four others Wednesday in the crash on Rudrakonda hill in the Nallamalla forest, 70 kilometres east of the southern Kurnool district, Federal Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said.

Security personnel found the bodies of the chief minister, his aides, principal secretary P Subramanyam and security officer ASC Wesley, and two pilots from the crash site.

"The aircraft is broken up into several parts and is charred. The bodies are also charred," Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

"We are in deep mourning. We have a deep sense of grief, shock and loss at the passing away of the chief minister," he added.

Reddy was among the most influential politicians from the Congress party that governs India.

A powerful Telugu leader, Reddy was credited with the Congress' impressive performance in the state during the April-May general elections, which ultimately led to the party's return to power at the federal level.

Sixty-year-old Reddy had left state capital Hyderabad on Wednesday morning on a US-built Bell helicopter to attend a farmer's contact programme in the southern Chittoor district.

Amid heavy rains, the chopper lost radio contact soon afterwards.

The state administration was anxious as the helicopter went missing over the Nallamalla forests, known to be a stronghold of Maoist militants.

But India's National Security Advisor MK Narayanan ruled out the possibility that the insurgents shot down the helicopter, saying they did not have the capability to do so.

After an intensive search operation involving 2,000 security force personnel, supported by 11 helicopters and aeroplanes that lasted nearly 24 hours, air force officials confirmed that the remains of the mangled chopper were found on the hill.

The search operations which continued into the night were hampered by inclement weather and resumed early Thursday morning.

Television channels showed members of Reddy's family and supporters crying after officials informed them that there were no survivors in the crash.

Chidambaram said it was "not possible" to determine what exactly caused the crash and this would be investigated later. Officials said Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K Rosaiah would take over as the acting chief minister of the state.

Local news channels reported that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and chairwoman of the ruling United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi were scheduled to travel to Hyderabad to meet the bereaved family later Thursday. (dpa)