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Jubilee News Desk
General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, and his wife Mrs Madhulika Rawat died after a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu, killing 13 on board. The Air Force has ordered an inquiry.
The Indian Air Force had confirmed a little before 2 pm that an Mi-17 V5 helicopter with General Rawat on board had “met with an accident near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu”. “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 (IAF) tweeted.
Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat, PVSM UYSM AVSM YSM SM VSM ADC is a four star general of the Indian Army. He is the first and current Chief of Defence Staff of India. On 30 December 2019, he was appointed as the first CDS of India and assumed office from 1 January 2020.
The general joined the army as a second lieutenant in 1978 and had four decades of service behind him, having commanded forces in Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Actual Control bordering China.
The only survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, is being treated for severe burns at the military hospital in Wellington, said the Air Force. Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today.
The helicopter crashed shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur at 11.45 am, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. The General was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and students.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, briefed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, called a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at his residence. The Defence Minister and Army Chief MM Naravane visited General Rawat’s home in Delhi long before the official announcement.
President of India Ram Nath Kovind offered condolences on twitter and wrote: “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.”
The Defence Minister called General Rawat’s death an “irreparable loss” to the country and the forces. “My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this accident. Praying for the speedy recovery of Gp Capt Varun Singh, who is currently under treatment at the Military Hospital, Wellington,” Rajnath Singh tweeted.
