The Indian Air Force on Wednesday confirmed that Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu.
“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,” an official communique from IAF reads.
General Bipin Rawat was on his way from the Sulur IAF Station to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.
It was when the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in a forested area in the Nilgiris district around 12:20 pm.
The crash occurred in a hilly area between Coimbatore and Sulur. The accident site happens to be at Katteri-Nanchappanchathram.
The ill-fated helicopter had 14 people in total. There were 9 passengers and 5 crew members.
The passengers were 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, as per ANI.
It was a Mi-17V5 helicopter, IAF said. Also, an inquiry has been ordered into the crash.
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