Indian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others perished in an Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash near Coonoor in the Nilgiris in western Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon.
Only one IAF officer survived and is undergoing medical treatment. The chopper was just 10 km away from its destination - the Wellington Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), where General Rawat was to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Court, when it crashed and turned into a fireball around 12.25 pm.
Nearly six hours after the tragic accident, the Indian Air Force Media Coordination Centre confirmed that the top officer was no more.
With deep regret, it has been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," the IAF MCC tweeted at 6.03 pm. Group Captain Varun Singh, Directing Staff at DSSC, who sustained injuries, is admitted at the Military Hospital in Wellington. Eyewitnesses said they came out of their homes in Kattery near Coonoor on hearing loud sounds of helicopter blades whirring and saw the chopper crash into a tree before it was engulfed in flames.
This story is from the December 09, 2021 edition of The Free Press Journal.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 09, 2021 edition of The Free Press Journal.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ARSENAL WIN LONDON DERBY
Turn up the heat on Liverpool and city in English Premier league title race
Rampant SRH eve another run-fest
Hosts are pushing the boundaries of T20 batting with their no holds barred approach
Pakistan: Family of man who lost life in mishap with CM Maryam's motorcade receives PKR 2.5 mn compensation
In response to the incident involving the protocol vehicle Chief Minister of Maryam Nawaz, the government has given a PKR 2.5 million cheque to the family of the deceased youth, who lost his life five days ago in the alleged accident, Dawn reported.
GERMANY TO RESUME AID SUPPLY TO PALESTINIANS
Assistance in Gaza was stalled aiter aid workers were recently killed
BHOPAL GETS MODI-FIED
ROAD SHOW from Malviya Nagar yee Ne Meh. ri-section to Nankane Petrol Pump Dat? otto ri-section continues for 25 minutes
'CONGRESS KI LOOT ZINDAGI KE SAATH BHI, BAAD BHI: MODI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressing a public rally in Surguja, Chhattisgarh took a dig at Congress citing the statement of inheritance tax on the country, said 'Congress ki loot zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke badd bhi'.
BRS, BJP will lose deposits in Nalgonda seat: Uttam
Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy declared that the Congress party will win the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat by a record margin and that both the BRS and BJP candidates will lose their deposits.
KUMBHANI FACES FLAK
Dudhat condemned the perceived betrayal of the Congress and the people
Blasts damage Manipur bridge days before polls
Explosions took place in Kuki-dominated Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district
HUL profit dips 1.5% to ₹2,561 cr net sales flat at ₹15,013 cr
FMCG major Hindustan Unilever on Wednesday reported a 1.53 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,561 crore for the fourth quarter of FY24 on account of deflation due to softening of commodity prices.