Indian defence chief General Bipin Rawat passed away today after a military chopper crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu. He was among the 14 people who were on board, apart from his wife and staff members.
"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.
“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,” the IAF added.
The sole survivor is Group Captain Varun Singh SC, directing staff at Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington, the IAF said.
The Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur at 11.45 am, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. The General was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.
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