CDS Gen Rawat, wife, 11 others killed in helicopter crash

New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others were killed when their IAF Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district on Wednesday, the IAF announced.

"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 said in a tweet.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a series of tweets, 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".

"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," he said.

The CDS was going to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to give a lecture.

The chopper, with a total of 14 persons on board, took off from the Sulur air base near Coimbatore and was on its way to Coonoor. When the chopper was a few minutes away from landing, it, as per eyewitnesses, hit a tree, crashed, and caught fire, resulting in several casualties.

Chopper crash: Heard a loud sound, helicopter was in flames, says eyewitness

Source: IANS

Chennai, Dec 8 (IANS) A man who lives near the site where an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carrying CDS Gen Bipin Rawat among 14 others crashed on Wednesday, said he saw 12 bodies scattered near the site of the accident.

India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others were killed when their IAF Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district, the IAF said.

"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 IAF said in a tweet.

Ravi, an eye witness, said two persons -- whose suffered serious burn injuries, were rescued from the ill-fated chopper but they were struggling for life.

Ravi, who lives near the crash site at Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, told IANS: "I heard a loud sound and found the helicopter in flames and coming down. I rushed to the spot with a few local residents and found 12 charred bodies... we rescued two persons but they were struggling for life. An ambulance took them to the Army hospital, Wellington."

Gen Rawat was among the 14 persons on oard the ill-fated helicopter.

The chopper, with a total of 14 persons, took off from the Sulur air base near Coimbatore and was on its way to Coonoor. When the chopper was a few minutes away from landing, it, as per eyewitnesses, hit a tree, crashed, and caught fire, resulting in several casualties.

"We knew that they were Army officers but did not know that General Rawat was in the helicopter," he said.

Krishna Moorthy, a farmhand who was also with Ravi, said: "The sound was so loud that I felt the earth was cracking and suddenly found the helicopter coming down... The two persons whom we rescued had little life in them."

He said that immediately after the local people reached the spot and rescued the two persons, Tamil Nadu police, Fire, and Army officials reached the spot and shifted the 12 bodies to Wellington hospital.

Sukumaran, a local journalist, told IANS: "The weather condition for the past one week was very bad and it was full of mist. Today, the condition of the weather was very bad... It was only 87 km from Sullur airforce base to the Defence station, Wellington."

The CDS was to deliver a talk at the Wellington Staff college at 2.30 p.m. to the young cadet officers.

President, PM condole demise of Gen Bipin Rawat, others
New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the demise of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other military personnel, who were killed in a chopper crash in the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu.

Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda also expressed condolences over the sudden demise of CDS Rawat and 12 other onboard the ill-fated chopper.

In a series of tweets, President Kovind said, "I am shocked and anguished over the untimely demise of Gen Bipin Rawat and his wife, Madhulika ji. The nation has lost one of its bravest sons. His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences to his family."

"It's deeply painful for me to learn of the loss of lives in the chopper crash. I join the fellow citizens in paying tributes to each of those who died while performing their duty. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," the President said in another tweet.

Expressing his grief, Prime Minister Modi said in a series of tweets, "I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the armed forces. They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families."

"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," the Prime Minister added.

Modi also pointed out that India will never forget General Rawat's exceptional service.

"As India's first CDS, Gen Rawat worked on diverse aspects relating to our armed forces, including defence reforms. He brought with him the rich experience of serving in the Army. India will never forget his exceptional service," Modi said.

Sharing his grief, Amit Shah said, "A very sad day for the nation as we have lost our CDS, General Bipin Rawat Ji, in a very tragic accident. He was one of the bravest soldiers, who served the motherland with utmost devotion. His exemplary contributions and commitment cannot be put into words. I am deeply pained."

"I also express my deepest condolences on the sad demise of Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other Armed Forces personnel. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this tragic loss. Praying for the speedy recovery of Gp Capt Varun Singh," the Home Minister said.

Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families, Nadda tweeted, "Deeply pained by the sudden demise of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife & 11 other Armed Forces personnel in an unfortunate helicopter accident today in Tamil Nadu. Huge loss to the nation. I salute Gen Rawat for his outstanding services. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families."

Gen Rawat second top Army officer to die in Mi-17 crash
New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) India's first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat (63), died along with his wife and 11 others, when their IAF Mi-17 crashed in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

This was the first fatality of a top defence official in nearly three decades - and has curious coincidences with the previous incident.

The previous incident of a senior Indian Army officer dying in a helicopter crash occurred in 1993 - and it also involved an Mi-17 helicopter, bad weather and the officer being accompanied by his wife.

Eastern Command chief, Lt Gen Jameel Mahmood, died in a helicopter crash in May 1993, while on a visit to Sikkim.

His wife, Military Assistant Col M.N. Ahmed, Lt Lakshman Tyagi, orderly Naik G. Thyagarajan, his personal bodyguard Havildar S. Vasudevan, and the IAF crew were also killed.

Commissioned into the Artillery in 1959, Mahmood commanded a platoon in Sikkim during the 1962 India-China war, and was conferred the Yudh Seva Medal. He also saw action during the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan war, held a series of key command (including of a brigade, infantry division, and the Srinagar-headquartered Chinar Corps), staff and instructional posts, including at the IMA, and the Army War College.

He became the Eastern Command chief in October 1992.

Three decades back, the Indian Army and Air Force lost a host of senior officials when an IAF Alouette chopper crashed near Poonch in November 1963.

Western Command chief, Lt Gen Daulat Singh, Western Air Command chief, Air Vice Marshal Erlic Pinto, Chinar Corps Commander, Lt Gen Bikram Singh, 25 Infantry Division chief, Maj Gen N.K.D. Nanavati, and 93 Brigade chief, Brigadier S.R. Oberoi, as well as pilot, Flight Lt S.S. Sodhi, were killed in the crash.

However, the miraculous survival of all passengers of an IAF de Havilland Devon transport aircraft crash near Lucknow in February 1952 was a godsend to the Indian Army.

On board were future Army chiefs - Lt Gen S.M. Shrinagesh and Major Gen K.S. Thimayya -- as well as Major Gen S.P.P. Thorat, later Eastern Command chief, Maj Gen Sardanand Singh, Major Gen Mohinder Singh Chopra and Brig Ajaib Singh.

Lt Gen Shrinagesh's ADC had to give up his seat at the last moment to accommodate Brig Singh. The person was K. Sundarji, who would go on to head the Indian Army in his turn.

Kejriwal, Sisodia express grief over CDS Bipin Rawat's demise
New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday expressed shock and grief over the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in a chopper crash.

Responding to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's condolence tweet, kejriwal tweeted: "Extremely tragic. God bless their soul."

Sisodia tweeted: "Deeply shocked & saddened by the tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and other defence personnel who were on board the chopper. It's a big loss for the nation".

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot too said: "Extremely shocking...May the souls rest in peace."

India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 others were killed when their IAF Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district on Wednesday, the IAF announced.

PM holds security meet after fatal chopper crash
New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the country's top security officers held a meeting on Wednesday over the situation arising out of the IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu that killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others onboard the ill-fated helicopter.

During the meeting, it was decided that as a mark of respect, the government will announce national mourning on Thursday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and top military, security and intelligence officers were part of the meeting. Discussion was also held over selecting the next Chief of Defence Staff designate.

Before the meeting, Rajnath Singh had spoken to Modi about the crash. He also asked Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to rush to the accident site.

In the meantime, Singh visited the residence of Rawat in Delhi and spoke to his daughter. Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General M.M. Naravane had briefed Singh about the crash and related issues.

Earlier on Wednesday, General Rawat and his wife were among the 13 persons who were killed after the Mi17V5 helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that General Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons onboard have died in the unfortunate incident," the Indian Air Force said in a statement.

General Rawat was on his way to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Nilgiri Hills to address the faculty and student officers of the staff course.

Out of the 14 people onboard, the lone survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, is currently undergoing treatment at the Military Hospital in Wellington.

Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier L.S. Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Naik Vivek Kumar, Naik B. Sai Teja and Havaldar Satpal were travelling along with General Rawat.

Apart from them, two pilots, a Group Captain and a gunner were onboard the ill-fated chopper.

Singh, along with his wife and seven staff, boarded a flight at Delhi for the Sulur IAF base near Coimbatore at 8:47. They landed in Sulur at 11:34 am. From there, they boarded the Mi17V5 helicopter at 11:48. At 12:22 pm, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) lost contact with the chopper, which crashed in a forest area around 7 km from Coonoor.

The IAF said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident. The report is expected in one month.

The mortal remains of all the deceased will be brought to Delhi on Thursday.