CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 13 others official dead in Tamil Nadu Mi-17V5 Helicopter Crashes
Chennai, December 08: In a very tragic incident, General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief Defence of Staff (CDS) retiring Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was named the first tri-service chief on December 30 with effect from December 31, 2019. succumbed to injuries when a Mi-17V5 chopper carrying him and his wife Madhulika Rawat crashed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon. The accident that took place at the Nanjappanchathiram area amid heavy mist claimed 13 lives.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) announced the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat along with 12 others in a tweet. PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief over Rawat’s death.
“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 Indian Air Force said in a statement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be making a statement on the chopper crash in both the Houses of Parliament on Thursday.
India’s senior-most defence official, Gen Rawat, was on board the helicopter that took off from the Sulur IAF Station in Coimbatore for the Defence Staff College in Wellington.
According to the IAF, Group Captain Varun Singh is the sole survivor of the crash. He is under treatment at the Military Hospital in Wellington.
HM Amit Shah extends condolences on the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat and 12 others in the IAF chopper crash. “CDS was one of the bravest soldiers, who has served the motherland with utmost devotion. His exemplary contributions & commitment can’t be put into words,” he says.
PM Narendra Modi will be holding a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting at 6.30 pm today. The development comes after a chopper carrying CDS General Bipin Rawat crashed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu earlier today.
Army Chief General MM Naravane briefs Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over the incident of the crash of a military chopper in Tamil Nadu, that was also carrying CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. Army Chief General MM Naravane also visited CDS Rawat’s residence a short while ago.