NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI/NEW DELHI, DEC 8
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 on Wednesday.
Singh is also monitoring the situation and a meeting of senior ministry of defence officials is underway.
The Defence Minister has also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the crash.
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.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 8, 2021
A military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor in which General Bipin Rawat along with wife and team was travelling to Wellington to give a lecture.
The number of casualties are still unknown and local police has ascertained only three rescued and searches are on for others.
Along with General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier L.S. Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Naik Vivek Kumar, Naik B. Sai Teja, Havaldar Satpal and pilots.
Confirming about General Rawat’s presence, Indian Air Force tweeted, “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat onboard, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.”
The force said that an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
The rescued people suffered serious injuries and have been taken to Wellington cantonment.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin deputes minister to oversee rescue mission, rushes to accident site
I am deeply shocked & disheartened on hearing the army chopper with CDS General Bipin Rawat and 13 others has met with an accident near Coonoor.
I've instructed the local administration to provide all the help needed in rescue operations even as I'm rushing to the spot.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 8, 2021
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday has left for Coimbatore en route Coonnor to visit the site of the crash of the IAF helicopter, carrying Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and others.
He will be reaching Coimbatore in an aircraft and from there he will reach Coonoor by road and is likely to reach the place of the helicopter crash by evening.
Tamil Nadu Forests Minister K. Ramachandran, who has reached the spot, said, “I am here on the instructions of Chief Minister MK Stalin to oversee the rescue operations. 14 people were in the helicopter but airforce has not given further details. Thick mist that engulfed the area resulted in the crash, according to Air Force.”