NE NEWS SERVICE
COONOOR, DEC 8
An Indian Air Force helicopter carrying the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and his entourage crashed on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu in apparently foggy conditions, killing 13 people on board, the IAF and other officials said. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, wife, 11 others killed in helicopter crash.
Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me deeply. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/YOuQvFT7Et
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2021
The Nilgiris Collector SP Amrith confirmed that 13 were killed in the crash while there was one survivor, a male.
There were a total of 14 persons onboard the helicopter, official sources said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin also indicated Rawat and 13 others were travelling in it when it crashed at a forest area near here.
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 (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) December 8, 2021
The IAF said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident, involving a Mi-17VH helicopter which took off from the Sulur IAF Station in nearby Coimbatore.
Stalin expressed shock over the incident.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is monitoring the situation, briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi about the crash and the IAF chief has been asked to reach the site.
Singh also visited the residence of Rawat and spoke to his daughter.
According to accounts of official sources and a local eyewitnesses here, the helicopter was flying at a low altitude in the foggy conditions when it crashed into a valley here, before falling through trees. Fire engulfed the helicopter by the time it landed on the ground.
Although it brushed a house during its fall, there was no human casualty or injury since the inmates were not at home. The building suffered damage in the episode. Two persons, who were ablaze, fell down from the helicopter, Perumal, an eyewitness said.
The helicopter carrying Rawat and others had left Sulur IAF station in Coimbatore around 10.30 am on Wednesday and was supposed to land at Defence Staff College in Wellington at Udhagamandalam about an hour later.
Later, it crashed in the forest area, reducing trees to pieces of logs and ashes due to resultant fire, even as the local people turned first responders to try and save the injured.
However, they could not help the victims due to the raging flames and informed authorities. Apparently, a major tragedy was averted as the helicopter fell at some distance away from the human habitation, averting possible mass casualties.
The accident site was a scene of despair with flames from the helicopter engulfing the wooden logs resulting in billowing smoke and personnel scurrying to douse the fire, including using buckets and water hose. What seemed to be some charred bodies were also seen lying around. Rescue personnel apparently picked up charred, severed limbs strewn around.
The mangled and burnt remains of the IAF chopper were strewn along the site, even as rescue services personnel were seen carrying bodies in stretchers to be transported through waiting ambulances.
The accident site remained out of bounds for civilians.
Rawat was on his way to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.
The copter crashed in Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area near here in the hilly Nilgiris district.
The helicopter, carrying a few senior officials, was on way to the Defence Services Staff College where Rawat, along with Chief of Army Staff MM Naravane, was slated to participate in an event later, the sources added.
Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan
Medical teams from nearby Coimbatore, including burns specialists, have also been sent to Coonoor to treat the injured, said Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan in Chennai on Wednesday evening. On receiving the information on tragic incident, enough number of 108 ambulances were rushed to spot to assist the military rescue team. Besides these, burn specialists and other medical experts from Coimbatore were also dispatched, he added.
Rajnath Singh condoles demise of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday condoled the demise of General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, who died today after a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu which killed 13 on board.
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 (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) December 8, 2021
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.
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) December 8, 2021
Taking to Twitter, Singh said, “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.” Singh added that 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.” Singh further said, “My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this accident. Praying for the speedy recovery of Gp Capt Varun Singh, who is currently under treatment at the Military Hospital, Wellington.” The Indian Air Force today informed that General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board the Mi-17 V5 helicopter were killed after the aricraft crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington.
— 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.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021
“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,” the Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted.
The Indian Air Force has issued a list of names of General Rawat’s staff who were on-board the crashed chopper. These include 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 are among those on board the aircraft.
