As per ANI, a total of 14 people including Defence Assistant, security commandos and IAF pilots were on board the chopper when it crashed.
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 were travelling in the chopper.
Confirming about General Rawat presence, Indian Air Force tweeted, “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, 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 suffered serious injuries and have been taken to Wellington cantonment.
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
News agency ANI while quoting sources reported that General Rawat, his wife and other staff were on board the Mi series chopper that crashed in the area falling between Coimbatore and Sulur.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat was among top Army officers on board an IAF helicopter which crashed in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, reports said.
#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.
(Video Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/YkBVlzsk1J
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
Bodies recovered from the site of the crash (between Coimbatore and Sulur where a military chopper crashed) have been taken to Military Hospital, Wellington in Tamil Nadu: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
Official sources in Coimbatore told PTI that four bodies have been retrieved and three persons rescued from under the debris of the helicopter which crashed in Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area near Coonoor in the hilly Nilgiris district.
Defence Minister @rajnathsingh expected to brief #Parliament on the crash of Army chopper in #Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu; the chopper was carrying Chief of Defence Staff General #BipinRawat, his staff and family members
Defence Minister @rajnathsingh expected to brief #Parliament on the crash of Army chopper in #Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu; the chopper was carrying Chief of Defence Staff General #BipinRawat, his staff and family members
— DD News (@DDNewslive) December 8, 2021
NILGIRIS CHOPPER TRAGEDY: 5 DEAD. 2 WITH SEVERE BURN INJURIES RESCUED, SHIFTED TO HOSPITAL CONDITION OF CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF GENERAL BIPIN RAWAT UNCLEAR SEARCH ON FOR 7 MORE 8 AMBULANCES AND MEDICAL TEAMS AT CRASH SITE M.K STALIN TO LEAVE FOR NILGIRIS AT 5 PM
NILGIRIS CHOPPER TRAGEDY:
5 DEAD. 2 WITH SEVERE BURN INJURIES RESCUED, SHIFTED TO HOSPITAL
CONDITION OF CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF GENERAL BIPIN RAWAT UNCLEAR
SEARCH ON FOR 7 MORE
8 AMBULANCES AND MEDICAL TEAMS AT CRASH SITE
M.K STALIN TO LEAVE FOR NILGIRIS AT 5 PM@ndtv
— J Sam Daniel Stalin (@jsamdaniel) December 8, 2021
11 bodies have been recovered from IAF helicopter crash site in Tamil Nadu.
11 bodies recovered from IAF helicopter crash site in Tamil Nadu.
(@Akshayanath /@ShivAroor )#bipinrawat #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/mABLvGo7lN— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) December 8, 2021
I have reached here (chopper crash site) on the instructions of the CM. Out of the 14 people on board, five people have died and the situation of two others is critical. Rescue operation is underway: Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ramachandran
I have reached here (chopper crash site) on the instructions of the CM. Out of the 14 people on board, five people have died and the situation of two others is critical. Rescue operation is underway: Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ramachandran pic.twitter.com/GNMHZ2Qqhk
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
Just in:
Raksha Mantri @rajnathsingh has reached CDS Gen Bipin Rawat’s house in Delhi @aajtak @IndiaToday
— Poulomi Saha (@PoulomiMSaha) December 8, 2021
Government likely to issue a statement in Parliament on the crash of the military chopper with Chief of Defence Staff on board: Sources
Thirteen of the 14 people on board an Army chopper that crashed in the forest area of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday have been confirmed dead, news agency ANI reported while quoting sources.
“13 of the 14 personnel involved in the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu have been confirmed dead. Identities of the bodies to be confirmed through DNA testing: Sources, ” tweeted ANI.
Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today.
Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021
Cremation of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife to be done on Friday (December 10) in Delhi Cantonment. Their mortal remains are expected to arrive in the National Capital in a military plane by tomorrow evening.
Cremation of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife to be done on Friday (December 10) in Delhi Cantonment. Their mortal remains are expected to arrive in the National Capital in a military plane by tomorrow evening.
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021