Hyderabad, Oct 5 : The Andhra Pradesh government has renamed Kadapa district as Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy district in memory of the former chief minister who died in a helicopter crash last month.

The government Monday issued the order renaming Kadapa, the native district of Rajasekhara Reddy.

YSR, as the late chief minister was popularly known, died in a helicopter crash in the dense forests in Kurnool district on Sep 2 while he was on his way to Chittoor district to launch a government programme.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by YSR's successor K. Rosaiah, on Sep 3 had decided to rename Kadapa after the popular leader.

Kadapa, earlier known as Cuddapah, is one of the four districts in Rayalseema region of the state. This is the fourth district in the state to be named after former chief ministers or deputy chief ministers or other leaders.

Last year Nellore district was renamed Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu Nellore district after Potti Sriramulu, who died after a hunger strike in 1952 to demand a separate state for the Telugu-speaking people.

Earlier, Ongole district became Prakasam when it was named after Tangaturi Prakasam Pantulu, chief minister of Andhra state before it became Andhra Pradesh in 1956.

Ranga Reddy district, which was carved out of Hyderabad district, was named after K. V. Ranga Reddy, a former deputy chief minister. (IANS)