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Defence Chief, Wife Among 13 Killed In Air Force Chopper Crash

General Bipin Rawat’s wife, his Defence Assistant, security commandos and IAF personnel were reportedly among the 14 on board.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife were among 13 killed in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the Air Force stated. Sole survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, is being treated for 90 per cent burn injuries. There was no immediate information on the condition of the defence chief. The rescue operation is officially over, asserted officials.

General Bipin Rawat’s wife, his Defence Assistant, security commandos and Indian Air Force personnel were reportedly among the 14 on board in a Mi-17 V5 chopper that “met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu,” the air force added.

Visuals showed the badly damaged chopper in flames, possibly under the impact of the crash. The accident site was a scene of despair with trees being reduced to broken pieces under the impact of the crash, flames from the chopper engulfing the wooden logs resulting in billowing smoke and personnel scurrying to douse the fire, including using buckets and water hose.

Paying rich tributes to Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that he was an outstanding soldier and a true patriot who greatly contributed to modernising India’s armed forces and security apparatus. Gen Rawat’s passing away has saddened him deeply, the prime minister said. In his condolence message, Modi said he was deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in which Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the armed forces died. They served India with utmost diligence, Modi said, adding that his thoughts are with the bereaved families.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh twitted that, “Deeply anguished by the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other Armed Forces personnel in an extremely unfortunate helicopter accident today in Tamil Nadu. His untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country”. In his condolence message, He said, General Rawat had served the country with exceptional courage and diligence. As the first Chief of Defence Staff he had prepared plans for jointness of our Armed Forces.

Military chopper crashes in Tamil Nadu, General Bipin Rawat on board

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