Helicopter carrying Indian defence chief crashes, 13 confirmed

A military helicopter carrying Indian defence chief General Bipin Rawat and 13 others crashed at Coonoor in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, killing five on the spot.

Thirteen people have died and a sole survivor is being treated for 90% burn injuries. There was no immediate information on the condition of the defence chief. The rescue operation is officially over, said officials, report NDTV.

Indian defence chief Bipin Rawat among 13 killed in helicopter crash

Local media said Rawat, who is India's Chief of Defence Staff, was accompanied by other officials when the chopper crashed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said: "CDS General Bipin Rawat has been taken to hospital for treatment,"

Photo: Hindustan Times.

According to reports, General Rawat's wife, Defence Assistant, security commandos and Indian Air Force personnel were also among 14 people on board.

The chopper was flying from Sulur Airbase to the Defence Staff Services College in Wellington in the Nilgiris.

Indian Cabinet Committee on Security will meet at 6:30pm (Indian Time) later on Wednesday, reported the Hindustan Times.

The Indian Air Force issued a statement confirming the crash and the presence of CDS Rawat on board.

"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 IAF said. 

As the rescue work is going on, officials said the bodies are yet to be identified. Two officials with 80% burns were sent to a local hospital, ANI reported.

The crash took place in the Nilgiris shortly after the Russian-made Mi-17 V5 chopper took off from the Air Force base in Sulur in Coimbatore for the Defence Staff Services College in Wellington. The crash was first reported around 12.20 pm. The defence establishment learnt of the incident from villagers who had informed the district administration. Indian Defence minister Rajnath Singh is likely to brief Parliament on the chopper crash on Thursday.

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.