CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, wife, among 13 killed in military helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu

India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others were killed on Wednesday in the military chopper crash that took place in Tamil Nadu. While the demise of 13 people was confirmed, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has also said that Gp Capt Varun Singh has suffered major injuries and is currently under treatment at Military Hospital.

"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.

The CDS was going to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to give a lecture. The chopper took off with 14 people on board from the Sulur airbase near Coimbatore and was heading to Coonoor. As per media reports, the chopper hit a tree and crashed while it was a few minutes away from landing. The helicopter has instantly caught fire after the crash leading to the dreadful aftermath.

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Military chopper IAF Mi-17V5, Gen Rawat, wife and 12 officers crashed on Wednesday afternoon. 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, as per reports of news agency IANS.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his profound grief as he tweeted saying he is 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," the defence minister added

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The Prime Minister of India also mourned as he wrote on Twitter that he is deeply anguished and that the officers including Gen Rawat had served India with utmost diligence. "My thoughts are with the bereaved families," he added.