Hyderabad, Sep 2 - Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy remains untraced after his helicopter went missing amid bad weather Wednesday morning, Chief Secretary Ramakant Reddy said.

He said the government had not been in touch with the chief minister since 9.45 a.m.

Reddy told reporters that Indian Air Force, state government as well as private helicopters were looking for the chief minister's chopper in a wide area in Kurnool district.

'So far we have not been able to get any confirmation (about the chief minister),' he said.

'It is possible that because of the strong winds and heavy rains, it is possible it may have landed in some unfamiliar area,' he said.

'If you land in an unfamiliar forest area, getting out will be very difficult,' he added.

He urged people living in forest and interior areas of Kurnool to 'kindly help us. If you get any signal, any reliable information, contact the nearest police station'.

YSR, as the chief minister is known, Wednesday morning took off in the helicopter from Hyderabad. It went off the radar amid inclement weather.