Hyderabad, Sep 3 - It is not just state-of-the-art technology that is being deployed to trace the missing helicopter carrying Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the authorities are also using the services of the tribals living in the dense Nallamalla forests.

While fighter jets and low-flying aircraft of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are hovering over the forest area to capture images, on the ground the tribals have joined army and police personnel in the search operations.

Familiar with the difficult terrain in one of the biggest forests in India, tribals are lending a helping hand to the authorities. The government had already made an appeal to people living in the forests to help in the search.

At least 14 teams of Chenchu tribals who inhabit the forest area in Kurnool district have fanned out in different directions to trace the missing chopper.

'The tribals are more familiar with the exit routes.