Indian defence chief’s chopper crashes, 13 deaths confirmed

An army chopper carrying Indian Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat on Wednesday in Tamil Nadu, NDTV reported citing the Indian Air Force.

Thirteen bodies have been found from the crash site and two have been taken to hospital with severe burn injuries. More details are not known so far.

General Rawat’s wife, his Defence Assistant, security commandos and Indian Air Force personnel were reportedly among the 14 on board.

The Indian Air Force confirmed in a tweet that the Chief of Defence Staff was on the flight. He had taken a flight from Delhi to Sulur earlier today and that flight manifest had nine people.

“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.”

The crash took place in the Nilgiris, shortly after the Mi-series chopper took off from the army base in Sulur in Coimbatore.

Visuals showed the wreckage scattered on the hillside and rescuers at work, struggling through thick smoke and fire and uprooted trees. Bodies were taken away by locals and policemen.

The crash took place in the Nilgiris, shortly after the Mi-series chopper took off from the army base.

Visuals showed the wreckage scattered on the hillside and rescuers at work, struggling through thick smoke and fire and uprooted trees. Bodies were taken away by locals and policemen.

General Rawat, 63, took charge as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff in January 2019. The position was set up with the aim of integrating India’s three services - the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

He was later also appointed the head of the newly-created Department of Military Affairs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have been briefed about the crash.