A helicopter carrying India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat crashed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the air force said.
“ An IAF Mi-17V5 copter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident moment near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu,” the Indian Air Force said on Twitter.
An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021
An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
According to India Today, at least four people have failed in the crash, while three others with severe burn injuries have been saved so far. The individualities of the deceased haven’t been ascertained yet.
The report quoted sources as saying that there were 14 people on board, including Gen Rawat, his woman, defense adjunct, security battalions, and an IAF airman.
Indian news agency ANI twittered illustrations from the crash point, showing the wreckage of the helicopter consumed by fire. According to the line service, Rawat’s family was also on board the ill-fated eggbeater.
Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
(Pics Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/miALr88sm1
The air force said an inquiry was underway into the accident.
Who’s Gen Rawat?
CDS General Bipin Rawat is the loftiest- serving military functionary in the Indian army, who was appointed to the recently created post of CDS, a day before he was set to retire as the army chief on December 31, 2019. As part of his new assignment, Gen Rawat was heading the new Department of Military Affairs in the Defence Ministry.
In Dec 2015, the Modi government had appointed Gen Rawat as the army chief by relieving two elderly officers.
Rawat comes from a military family with several generations having served in the Indian fortified forces.
The general, who has four decades of service behind him, has commanded forces in Indian-engaged Kashmir and along the Line of Factual Control skirting China.
He’s credited with reducing insurrection on India’s northeastern frontier and supervised across-border counter-insurgency operations into neighboring Myanmar.
