Indian defence chief Gen Bipin Rawat dead in Tamil Nadu chopper crash

Indian defence chief Gen Bipin Rawat is reported to have died in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash on Wednesday.

General Bipin Rawat, 63, was appointed as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2019.

CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other people on board the IAF chopper are reported dead.

Identities of the bodies will be confirmed through DNA testing, said sources.

India TV reported that Rawat received burns to 70-80% of his body.

Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan was the pilot of the Mi-17V5, which crashed with 14 personnel on board. 

He is the Commanding Officer of the 109 Helicopter Unit, said sources.

Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter met with the accident near Coonoor, on Wednesday afternoon.

Indian Government is likely to issue a statement tomorrow in Parliament over the crash of the military chopper with Chief of Defence Staff on board, as per the Indian media.

As being reported, the Indian Chief of Defence Staff was on his way to the Defence Staff College in Wellington.

General Rawat was appointed the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016.