Tamil Nadu, Dec 8: Thirteen people including India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat were killed after an Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff on board crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday. Thirteen people have been confirmed dead in the incident.
Indian Air Force in a tweet informed that Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today. There were a total of fourteen people on board.
Media reports said that CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife, defence assistant, security commandos and an IAF pilot were on board the Mi-series chopper when it crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu.
Visuals from the site of the Indian Air Force helicopter crash showed massive flames and locals helping with the immediate rescue operations. Bodies were seen downhill. Several teams, including local military officers, reached the site for search and rescue operations.
“With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident,” the IAF said in a tweet.
Group Captain Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC and the sole survivor, was undergoing treatment for injuries at the Military Hospital, Wellington, IAF added.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the death of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and other personnel in an helicopter crash
“Deeply anguished by the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other Armed Forces personnel in an extremely unfortunate helicopter accident today in Tamil Nadu” Rajnath Singh tweeted.
His untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country. (KNT)
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