IAF Chopper Crash: CDS Bipin Rawat No More; His Wife, 11 Other Army Personnel Among Dead

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other personnel died after the Indian Air Force chopper they were travelling in crashed near Coonor near Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri hill district.

AFP

IAF confirmed news

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.

¡ª Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021

"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," tweeted IAF.

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.

¡ª Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021

The IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, carrying Gen. Rawat and two more top Army officials the chopper met with an accident near Coonoor, between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu.

Army chopper crashes near Ooty with CDS #BipinRawat on board, rescue operations on pic.twitter.com/ChBFQAHnyZ

¡ª The Times Of India (@timesofindia) December 8, 2021

The chopper was heading for Wellington from Sulur, informed the Indian Air Force. Rawat's wife Madhulika Rawat, his DA Brigadier LS Lidder, his SO Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh were among the 14 people on-board the military chopper that crashed in Tamil Nadu.

#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper. pic.twitter.com/6oxG7xD8iW

¡ª ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

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.

The Indian Air Force has issued a list of names of General Rawat's staff who were also on-board the crashed chopper. The names include CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier LS Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kumar, L/NK Vivek Kumar, L/NK B Sai Teja and Hav Satpal.

"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.

¡ª Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 8, 2021

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ended midway an administrative review meeting on Monday as soon as she came to know that an army chopper, with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat on board, crashed in Tamil Nadu.

"We have received sad news. I am shocked. I have no words to express my grief. I am ending this meeting," she said and left the venue of the meeting.

Taking to Twitter, the CM said, "Extremely tragic news coming in from Coonoor. Today, the entire nation prays for the safety of those who were onboard including CDS Bipin Rawat and his family members. Also praying for the speedy recovery of everyone who was injured."

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