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THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
Indian defence chief Bipin Rawat among 13 killed in helicopter crash

World+Biz

TBS Report
08 December, 2021, 06:35 pm
Last modified: 08 December, 2021, 08:06 pm

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Indian defence chief Bipin Rawat among 13 killed in helicopter crash

TBS Report
08 December, 2021, 06:35 pm
Last modified: 08 December, 2021, 08:06 pm
Photo: Collected
Photo: Collected

India's Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat  died on Wednesday (8 December) after a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu, killing 13 on board.

General Rawat's wife, travelling with him, was also killed. One man is being treated for severe burns, reports the NDTV. 

"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 Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted.

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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

PM Modi tweets on General Bipin Rawat's death: "Deeply anguished"

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2021

I am shocked and anguished over the untimely demise of Gen. Bipin Rawat and his wife, Madhulika ji. The nation has lost one of its bravest sons. His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences to his family.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 8, 2021

I also express my deepest condolences on the sad demise of Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other Armed Forces personnel. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this tragic loss.

Praying for the speedy recovery of Gp Capt Varun Singh.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 8, 2021

Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh expresses grief for sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat. 

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.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 8, 2021

The IAF had confirmed a little before 2 pm that an Mi-17 V5 helicopter with General Rawat on board had "met with an accident near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu".

The Air Force also said it had ordered an Inquiry into what happened.

The helicopter crashed shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur at 11.45 am, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills.

General Rawat was heading to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

It was making its descent and would have landed in 10 more minutes when it came down, barely 10 km from a road.

Videos showed steaming wreckage scattered on a hillside and rescuers struggling through smoke and fire to locate bodies. Charred bodies were pulled out from under mangled metal and fallen trees.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, briefed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, called a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at his residence. The Indian Defence Minister and Army Chief MM Naravane visited General Rawat's home in Delhi long before the official announcement.

General Rawat, 63, took charge as India's first Chief of Defence Staff in January 2019. The position was created to integrate the three services - the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The Chief of Defence Staff is the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and has to be the main military adviser to the Defence Minister besides giving impartial advice to the political leadership.

A former Army Chief, General Rawat was also appointed the head of the newly-created Department of Military Affairs.

Rawat  joined the army as a second lieutenant in 1978 and had four decades of service behind him, having commanded forces in Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Actual Control bordering China.

Top News / South Asia

India / Bipin Rawat

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