Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday,
Other who died in the helicopter crash included Brigadier LS Lidder, Lt Col Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kumar, L/Nk Vivek Kumar, L/Nk Teja, Hav Stapal.
The helicopter crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor area.
Indian Air Force confirmed the crash in a tweet:”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 media reports said CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife, defence assistant, security commandos and an IAF pilot were on board the helicopter when it crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu
According to India Today, CDS Bipin Rawat was going to Wellington in Coonoor from the Indian Air Force base in Sulur near Coimbatore. He left Delhi for Sulur earlier on Wednesday.
Videos and pictures from the crash site showed rescue teams carrying the bodies.
A retired Indian Lt General, HS Panag, also confirmed the death of CDS General Bipin Rawat in a tweet.”RIP General Bipin Rawat!”
(This story is being updated)