India: AP CM’s death: 122 people die of shock, suicides

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Indian media says 99 people died of shock, 23 committed suicide after YS Jaggan Reddy’s death confirmed on Thursday
* Son appeals for calm

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: As many as 122 people across Andhra Pradesh have reportedly died of shock or committed suicide after the state chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s death was confirmed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, with the deceased’s son YS Jagan Reddy asking the mourners to stay calm, according to Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).

“I appeal to all of you to be stoic and brave in this hour of tragedy. He wanted to see a smile on the faces of all and if you resort to such things (suicide), this will hurt him,” he said.

IANS quoted Reddy as saying that his father “used to smile even in difficult times and I am sure he is still smiling. I request you to follow his principle and not to commit suicide as this will not give him peace”.

Reddy is a member of the Lok Sabha from Kadapa and is being seen by many as the next chief minister.

His appeal before the camera was telecast on all Telugu television channels.

TV channels across India estimated that 122 people had died of shock on hearing the news of their leader’s death, or committed suicide.

Most of those who died had been keenly following news reports ever since Reddy’s helicopter went missing on Wednesday, with the confirmation news of his death on Thursday triggering the series of deaths in mourning.

NTV, a Telugu channel, reported that 122 people had died since Thursday morning when YSR’s body was found. It said 99 people died of shock while 23 had committed suicide.

But the death toll could not be confirmed independently and police said they did not have any figures to confirm the reports.

This is the first time in the Andhra Pradesh’s history that such a large number of people have died over the death of a political leader.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_9