Srinagar Dec 8: Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat has died along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons including top Army officers after the chopper they were on board crashed in a forest area in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning, the Indian Air Force confirmed.
“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, ‘ an IAF spokesman tweeted.
Around noon today, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor, TN.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021
As per the IAF spokesman, Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington.
Gen Bipin Rawat, he said, was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today, at the time the chopper crashed.
“Around noon today, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor, TN, ” he added.