The sole survivor of the ill-fated military helicopter crash, Group Captain Varun Singh, was shifted to a military hospital in Bengaluru on Thursday from Wellington in Tamil Nadu, officials said. The lone survivor's condition remains critical due to the severe burn injuries inflicted from the crash on Wednesday. The Group Captain was first moved to Sulur in an ambulance by road on Thursday and later moved to Bengaluru by air for better treatment. India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others were killed in the unfortunate IAF chopper crash.
Key Points:
1. Group Captain Singh was present as the liaison officer for India's first CDS, Gen Rawat, who was visiting the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington with his wife and 11 other officials on board. He was posted as an instructor at the prestigious institute.
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2. The Group Captain was on the chopper to receive General Rawat who was headed to address the faculty and students at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. The base lost contact with it around 20 minutes later, just before it was due to land in the cantonment town of Wellington, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament.
3. The Defence Minister has also said that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-services inquiry into the incident and it will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Training Command. "The Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter took off from Sulur airbase at 11:48 am yesterday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 pm. Air Traffic Control at Sulur airbase lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12:08 pm," the defence minister said.
4. Singh also said that a few locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of a military helicopter engulfed in flames. He further added that rescue teams from the local administration had reached the site attempted to recover the survivors.
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5. "All those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to the military hospital, Wellington. Latest reports have confirmed that out of the total 14 persons on board the ill-fated helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries," he added.
