New Delhi: The helicopter of the first Chief of Defense General Bipin Rawat of the Indian Army crashed.
According to Indian media, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat’s died in a military helicopter crash near Connor in the state of Tamil Nadu.
According to Indian media, local officials said that 11 bodies have been recovered so far as a result of the accident while Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat was seriously injured in the accident and his condition is critical.
The Indian Air Force has also confirmed on social media that Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat’s Mi-17V5 helicopter has crashed.
A statement issued by the Indian Air Force said that an inquiry has been launched into the cause of the helicopter crash.
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
On the other hand, Indian media reports have confirmed the death of 7 people in the helicopter crash, but it is not known who was among those killed.
According to the Indian news agency ANI, the bodies found at the site of the helicopter crash have been shifted to a military hospital.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 pic.twitter.com/Ac3f36WlBB
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
It may be recalled that Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat retired on December 31, 2019 after completing his term, but was appointed by the Modi government as India’s first Chief of Defense Staff.
Details:
An Indian Army helicopter has crashed near Kunwar in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, killing 11 people.
According to a statement issued by the Indian Air Force, Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat was also aboard the Mi-17F5 helicopter.
According to Indian media, the helicopter was going from Silver Air Base to Defense Services Staff College in Wellington. Earlier, Indian news agency Press Trust of India quoted official sources as saying that five bodies had been recovered from the spot while four critically injured people had also been rescued.
An Indian Air Force statement said an inquiry had been ordered into the cause of the crash.
According to the Indian Broadcasting Corporation (ANI), local military officers rushed to the spot as soon as the accident was reported, while locals rushed the two bodies, 80 percent burnt, to a local hospital.
Former Indian Army Chief General JJ Singh while talking to NDTV said that the bodies have been burnt which is making it difficult to identify them.
The report quoted sources as saying that in addition to the Indian Chief of Defense Staff, the helicopter was carrying 14 people, including defense assistants, security commandos and other Air Force personnel, as well as some members of his family.
The helicopter crashed in the woods, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the wreckage.
The helicopter crashed at 12:20 pm, which was reported by locals to the district administration, after which the defense establishment came to know about it. Footage from the crash site showed some charred bodies pulled out by locals.
General Bipin Rawat, 63, took over as the first Chief of Defense Staff on December 31, 2019, after serving as India’s Army Chief. Earlier, on February 3, 2015, when he was a lieutenant general, he was also involved in a helicopter crash, but fortunately survived.
