CDS General Bipin Rawat, His Wife And 12 Others Dead in IAF Mi-17 V5 Helicopter Crash

Niligiris, December 8: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat died on Wednesday in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district. A total of 14 people, including General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, were onboard the ill-fated Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) Mi-17 V5 helicopter when it crashed near Coonoor. The incident took place at the Nanjappanchathiram area between Sulur and Coimbatore. Thirteen personnel out of 14 onboard the helicopter died in the crash. Group Captain Varun Singh was critically injured in the crash.

CDS General Bipin Rawat Dies in IAF Helicopter Crash in Tamil Nadu, Wife Madhulika Rawat Among 12 Others Dead in The Crash

After the crash, General Rawat was rushed to the Wellington military hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The IAF has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The chopper took off from the Sulur airbase and was proceeding to Wellington when it crashed. Reportedly, General Rawat was to deliver a lecture at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington later in the day. IAF Mi-17 V5 Helicopter Carrying CDS General Bipin Rawat Crashes In Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris; Know All About The Russian-Made Chopper.

Tweet By IAF:

IAF Mi-17V5 Helicopter Crash: CDS General Bipin Rawat Rushed to Hospital, 13 Dead; Here’s What We Know so Far

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.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021

According to reports, the helicopter was crashed due to poor visibility following heavy fog. Others who were in the chopper were 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. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the crash.

General Rawat was a four-star general of the Indian Army. He was the first CDS of India. On December 30, 2019, general Rawat was appointed as the first CDS of India and assumed office on January 1, 2020. Gen Rawat was born in Pauri, Uttarakhand. He was commissioned into the 5th battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles on December 16, 1978.