CDS General Bipin Rawat and 12 Others Die In Helicopter Crash in Tamil Nadu .

 

CDS General Bipin Rawat and 12 Others Die In Helicopter Crash in Tamil Nadu . Readmore:

V/D/C  NEWS :

New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed on the evening of Wednesday, December 8. He was among the 14 people who were on board, including his wife and staff members. Thirteen people have succumbed to the crash, including CDS Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and 11 others.

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 tweeted at 6:03 pm.

            Around noon today, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor, TN,” the IAF added.

The sole survivor is Group Captain Varun Singh, directing staff at Defence Services Staff College (DSSC). He is being treated for his injuries at the Military Hospital in Wellington, the IAF said.

General Rawat was India’s first CDS, assuming office on January 1, 2020. Previously, he was the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee between September 27, 2019 and December 31, 2019, and the Chief of Army Staff between December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2019.

The IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter was on its way from Sulur in Coimbatore to DSSC in Wellington where General Rawat, along with Chief of Army Staff M.M. Naravane, was slated to participate in an event. The chopper crashed in the forest area reportedly due to poor visibility following heavy fog.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh is expected to address parliament on the matter on Thursday, December 9. The Cabinet Committee on Security – comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top four ministers in his cabinet: defence, home, finance and external affairs – will be convened at 6:30 pm, according to reports.

Around an hour before the official confirmation, the Nilgiris district administration had said that 13 of the 14 people died. The rescue operation had concluded and the sole survivor – a male member who was not been identified – is being treated, the administration had confirmed.

At 1:53 pm on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force confirmed in a tweet that CDS Rawat was on board the helicopter and that an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident. However, there was no official note on injuries or a death toll from the crash until after 6 pm.