NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 10
Chief of Defence Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat’s mortal remains will be cremated with full military honours at Brar Square crematorium in New Delhi on Friday.
Paid tributes to Brigadier LS Lidder. My heart goes out to his family. May God give them strength to bear this monumental loss. pic.twitter.com/gUnrV0Q36w
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 10, 2021
The Indian Army informed that Rawat’s body would lie in state at his residence on K. Kamaraj Marg for people to pay their last respects.
According to broad timings announced by the Army, civilian dignitaries and citizens can pay their respects from 11 am to 12.30 pm. Military personnel can pay their respects from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm.
With a heavy heart paid my last respects to Gen Bipin Rawat Ji and Mrs Madhulika Rawat Ji.
Gen Rawat was the epitome of bravery and courage. It was very unfortunate to lose him so early. His commitment towards the motherland will forever remain in our memories. pic.twitter.com/RvlXP8L1tg
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 10, 2021
Total 12 officers (from Army, Navy & Air Force) of the rank of Brigadier and equivalent are on Vigil Duty to maintain continuous vigil over the mortal remains while it is laid in state. Six officers (02 each from Army, Navy & Air Force) of the rank of Lieutenant General equivalent will be the Pall(National Flag) Bearers.
“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it; it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”
Offer your tributes to the Brave Son of India General #BipinRawat #CDS by clicking on the link https://t.co/p0HCrZU1pM#Tributes#GenBipinRawat#IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/JNRRHwkwMA
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 10, 2021
Wreaths are being laid by visiting dignitaries while the mortal remains laid in State and will also be laid at Brar Square Cremation Ground. Ceremonial Battery of 2233 Field Regiment is providing gun carriage.
99 all ranks from the Army, Navy and Air force and 33 members of the triservices band will form the front escort while 99 all ranks from the thre Services will act as the Rear Escort.
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri @AjaybhattBJP4UK and Defence Secretary Dr @drajaykumar_ias, today paying homage to the mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 Armed Forces personnel who lost their lives in the ill fated #IAF chopper pic.twitter.com/tP7vPbrPx2
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) December 9, 2021
A total of 800 service personnel will be in attendance for the military funeral of the CDS.
The CDS is being accorded a 17 gun salute, as per laid down protocols. Post the playing of the Last Post and Rouse by tri services buglers, the funeral pyre will be lit by family members.
The bodies will be taken to the crematorium at around 2pm.
Traffic diversion
The Delhi Police had said “funeral procession will pass through Rajaji Marg, Teen Murti Chowk, 11 Murti, Sardar Patel Marg and Dhaula Kuan before reaching Delhi Cantonment”.
The Delhi Police has imposed traffic restrictions for the funeral. The K. Kamaraj Marg would be closed for public transport after Bipin Rawat’s mortal remains reach his residence. This will affect several bus routes as there is a bus stop near Bipin Rawat’s residence. While roads will be open for private vehicles, restrictions could be imposed during movement of VVIPs.
The funeral of brigadier Lakhwinder Singh Lidder, who was a member of the staff of Bipin Rawat and another crash victim, is expected to be held at Delhi Cantonment at 9.15am.
Leaders pay last respect to son of Mother India
Earlier today, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid their last respects to the CDS Bipin Rawat, who was killed along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others in a Mi-17V5 Indian Air Force helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor.
Also, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Harish Singh Rawat, BJP chief JP Nadda and DMK leaders A Raja and Kanimozhi were among the others who paid their last respects to the CDS Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat.
On Thursday Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar laid wreaths on the mortal remains of Brigadier Lidder—who is only the third person after CDS Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika whose bodies have been positively identified among the 13 killed in the helicopter crash.
The bodies were flown from Sulur air base to the Palam airport in New Delhi on Thursday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top officials of the defence services paid them tributes.