Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other people on board an Indian Air Force helicopter died in a crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force said.
“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,” it said.
“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.
It said Group Captain Varun Singh with injuries is currently under treatment at a military hospital in Wellington.
6: 10 PM | 13 Of 14 Occupants Killed, Says Nilgiris Collector
As many as 13 of the 14 occupants of the Indian Air Force helicopter, which had Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat among others onboard, died in the tragic crash on Wednesday, a top district official said.
There was one survivor, a male, Nilgiris Collector SP Amrith told PTI.
“Thirteen of the 14 (occupants) have died. There is one male survivor,” he said without divulging details.
5:50 PM | CCS To Meet At 6:30 PM
Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is scheduled to meet at 6:30 pm to discuss the situation arising out of the crash of a military helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and several other officers on board on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
The meeting will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah among others.
Sources said Singh has already briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the crash and the Indian Air Force chief has been asked to reach the site.
The CCS will meet at 6:30 pm, the sources said.
Separately, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane briefed the Defence Minister about the crash and related issues.
It is learnt that the top military brass also met following the accident.
The defence minister visited the residence of Rawat and spoke to his daughter.
Singh is likely to make a statement on the incident in Parliament on Thursday.
Official sources said the Mi-17V5 helicopter got airborne from Sulur for Wellington and there were 14 people on board the chopper including the crew.
The Chief of Defence Staff was on his way to the Defence Staff College in Wellington.
The IAF said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident.
5:10 PM | Politicians Pray For Well-Being Of General Rawat, Others
Leaders across the political spectrum wished for the well-being of Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat as an Indian Air Force helicopter with him on board crashed on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
Reacting to the accident, several politicians, including senior ministers, wished for the well-being and safety of Rawat and others on board.
Read More Here: IAF Chopper Crash: Politicians Pray For Well-Being Of CDS Rawat, Others
4:37 PM | Concerned Ministry To Share Information On Chopper Crash At Appropriate Time: Govt
Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said information about the helicopter accident in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu will be shared by the ministry concerned at an appropriate time.
The entire information about the accident that has taken place will be shared by the concerned ministry at an appropriate time, Thakur told reporters when asked about the helicopter crash involving Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat.
An Indian Air Force helicopter with Rawat on board crashed on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the IAF said.
There was no immediate information on the condition of Rawat.
3:54 PM | Rajnath Visits Rawat’s Residence
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the residence of CDS Bipin Rawat in New Delhi.
Delhi | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaches the residence of CDS Bipin Rawat pic.twitter.com/05DismLAq9
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
3: 45 PM | 5 Dead, Two Critically Injured: Tamil Nadu Forest Minister
14 people were on-board, out of which 5 have died and the situation of two others is critical: Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ramachandran at the #Nilgiris crash site.
14 people were on-board, out of which 5 have died and the situation of two others is critical: Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ramachandran at the #Nilgiris crash site
— DD News (@DDNewslive) December 8, 2021
3: 30 PM| Rajnath asks IAF chief to rush to spot
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has asked Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari to reach the military aircraft crash site in Tamil Nadu where the chopper carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat met an accident.
Defence Minister @rajnathsingh directs @IAF_MCC Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari to reach the #Nilgiris crash site
— DD News (@DDNewslive) December 8, 2021
3: 15 PM | Defence Minister Briefs PM Modi
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is monitoring the situation after an Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and several other offficers on board met with an accident on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
Sources said Singh has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the crash and the Indian Air Force chief has been asked to reach the site.
A meeting of senior officials of the ministry is underway, sources said.
The defence minister is likely to make a statement on the issue in Parliament.
3:01 PM | Hoping for safety of CDS General Bipin Rawat, others: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that he hoped that everyone on the chopper was safe, including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.
“Hoping for the safety of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and others onboard the chopper. Prayers for speedy recovery.” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Hoping for the safety of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and others onboard the chopper.
Prayers for speedy recovery.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 8, 2021
Nilgiirs | New Delhi- An Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on board met with an accident on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the IAF said, as four persons were killed in the mishap that happened reportedly due to low visibility due to foggy conditions.
However, there was no immediate information on the condition of Gen Rawat, even as the IAF said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident, involving a Mi-17VH choppper that took from the Sulur IAF Station in nearby Coimbatore.
An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021
14 people were on-board the military chopper. They included CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brig LS Lidder, Lt Col Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kr, L/Naik Vivek Kumar, L/Naik B Sai Teja & Hav Satpal.
Official sources in Delhi said all the injured people on board the helicopter have been evacuated from the spot of the accident.
The Chief of Defence Staff was on his way to the Defence Staff College in Wellington.
Meanwhile, official sources in Coimbatore said four bodies have been retrieved and three persons rescued from under the debris of the helicopter which crashed in Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area near Coonoor in the hilly Nilgiris district. There was no concrete information immediately on the number of persons travelling in the ill-fated chopper though official sources had earlier said 3-4 senior offcials were among its occupants.
The helicopter, carrying a few senior officials, was on its way from Sulur in Coimbatore to DSC in Wellington where Rawat, along with Chief of Army Staff MM Naravane, was slated to participate in an event later.
#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.
(Video Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/YkBVlzsk1J
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
The chopper crashed in a forest area, reportedly due to poor visibility following heavy fog, official sources said.
TV visuals showed the chopper in flames, apparently under the impact of the crash.
Rescue personnel, along with Army personnel, were seen involved in clearing the area.
Rawat is India’s first Chief of Defence Staff appointed on January 1, 2019. He was appointed the head of the newly created Department of Military Affairs in one of the most significant reorganization in Defence Ministry in decades.
He had served as the Chief of the Army for three years before taking over as the CDS.
- This is a developing story
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