Tawqeer Hussain
India’s Chief of Defence staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other staff members die in a major helicopter crash in Southern India’s Tamil Nadu State, Indian Air Force announces on Wednesday.
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 the reports, 14 people were on-board the ill fated chopper which crashed in Coonoor area of the Tamil Nadu. 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.
Indian Air Force, while confirming the accident say they have ordered an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.
An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021
.
General Bipin Rawat was appointed India’s first Chief of Defence Staff on 31 Dec 2019.
General Rawat is an alumnus of St Edward’s School, Shimla and the National Defence Academy. He was commissioned on 16 Dec 1978 into the Fifth Battalion of the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles of the Infantry, the Battalion which was Commanded by his father.
He served across a wide spectrum of combat and conflict situations. He has commanded an Infantry Battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector and a Rashtriya Rifles Sector in the Kashmir Valley. Soon thereafter, he went on to Command a Multinational Brigade in a Chapter VII Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was assigned to Command an Infantry Division along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and was Corps Commander in the North-East. As an Army Commander, he was responsible to oversee operations in the Desert sector, along the Western front.
General Rawat has held several important instructional and staff appointments. These include instructional tenures at the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun) and at the Junior Command Wing as the Senior Instructor. He was the General Staff Officer at Military Operations Directorate, the Colonel and later Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch, the Major General General Staff of the Eastern Theatre and was also the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. The General was the Chief of the Army Staff from 31 Dec 2016 to 31 Dec 2019.
A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College (Wellington) and the Command and General Staff Course, Fort Leavenworth (USA). He has attended the Higher Command Course at Mhow and is a graduate of the National Defence College, New Delhi. Academically inclined, the General has authored several articles on National Security and Military Leadership which have been published in various Journals and Publications. He also holds two diplomas in Management and in Computer Studies. The General was awarded the ‘Doctorate of Philosophy’ (Ph.D) for his research on ‘Military Media Strategic Studies’ by the Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.
For the distinguished service rendered and valour displayed over the span of over 42 years of his entire service career, General Bipin Rawat has been conferred several Presidential Awards which include the PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM and the VSM. Besides these, he has been awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation on two occasions as also the Army Commander’s Commendation. While serving with the UN in Congo, he was twice awarded the Force Commander’s Commendation.
LIVE UPDATES:
- 13 of the 14 personnel involved in the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu have been confirmed dead. Identities of the bodies to be confirmed through DNA testing: ANI reports quoting unnamed sources
13 of the 14 personnel involved in the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu have been confirmed dead. Identities of the bodies to be confirmed through DNA testing: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
- In view of the CDS Helicopter crash, President Ram Nath Kovind cancels his Mumbai events, will be back to Delhi. His is supreme commander of Armed forces.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to make statement,on Helicopter crash, in Parliament tomorrow.
- Delhi | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaches the residence of CDS Bipin Rawat
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to brief Parliament shortly.
- 14 persons onboard the chopper including CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other staff members: Reports
- Reports say Defence Ministry has briefed PMO over the crash.
- Media reports 4 dead.
#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.
(Video Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/YkBVlzsk1J
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
- Rescue and search operation launched from nearby bases.
- Chopper crashes in Coonoor Tamil Nadu
