All roads lead to Idupulapaya

KADAPA: The people of Kadapa district today paid rich tributes to Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash this day last year.

All roads in the district led to his Idupulapaya estate and people from all walks of life thronged YSR ghat to pay their respects.

Nearly two lakh people from Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool, Prakasam, twin Godavari districts, Karimnagar, Guntur, Nellore and others districts visited Idupulapaya.

In view of the bitter experience during YSR’s funeral last year, the district administration made elaborate arrangements for smooth flow of traffic to YSR ghat. Vehicle were stopped at Vempalle and people were transported from there to Rajiv Knowledge Valley in RTC and other private vehicles specially arranged for the purpose.

Many people chose to walk from Gandi (6 km) and Vempalle (14 km) to the YSR ghat. People started streaming in from Wednesday midnight itself. Arrangements were made for drinking water and food.

At 3 a.m., senior Congress leader Kanumuri Bapiraju, former TTD chairman B Karunakar Reddy, former minister Konda Surekha and her husband Murali visited the ghat and paid tributes.

At 6 a.m., YSR’s family members including Y S Vijayamma, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, Sharmila, Y S Vivekananda Reddy and others visited the ghat.

YSR’s friend and advisor KVP Ramachandra Rao, film personalties Naresh, Vijaychandar, Adiseshagiri Rao, YSR’s brother YS Sudhekar Reddy, his son-in-law M Vishnuvardhan also paid tributes.