NEW DELHI: In an unfortunate incident, India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons have died in the unfortunate accident in the helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, today afternoon.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) posted on its official handle informing the sad news, "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 IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, carrying General Bipin Rawat was heading for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills from Sulur to address the faculty and student officers of the staff course today. He was accompanied by a crew of 4 members along with 9 passengers.

Apart from General Rawat his wife the others on board were his Defence Assistant Brigadier L S Lidder, his SO Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja and Havildar Satpal. 

The only surviving person from the crash Group Captain Varun Singh with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington. Captain Singh was awarded Shaurya Chakra on this year’s Independence Day for saving his LCA Tejas fighter aircraft during an aerial emergency in 2020.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and almost all senior leaders have tweeted their condolences. the PM tweeted, "I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces. They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too tweeted saying, 'Deeply anguished by the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other Armed Forces personnel in an extremely unfortunate helicopter accident today in Tamil Nadu. His untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country.'

Although the exact reason for the crash is yet to be ascertained certain news reports speculated that it could have happened due to low visibility owing to foggy conditions.

The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry into the accident involving the Mi-17VH chopper and which is expected to be submitted at the earliest. 

Television visuals showed the badly damaged chopper was in totally charred conditions which are most possibly due to the fire on impact which would have inflicted third-degree burns on the passengers and crew.

Reports also suggest that a major tragedy was averted as the helicopter fell at some distance away from human habitation, averting possible mass casualties.