New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF), in a Twitter thread, announced that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat is no more. He was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course on Wednesday.
"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," one of the tweets read.
Around noon today, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, said the IAF.
Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington, it further said.
Group Captain Varun Singh was awarded Shaurya Chakra on this year’s Independence Day for saving his LCA Tejas fighter aircraft during an aerial emergency in 2020.
General Bipin Rawat and his wife will be cremated on Friday in Delhi Cantonment. Their bodies are expected to arrive in the national capital in a military plane by tomorrow evening.
Condoling the demise of the first CDS, President Ram Nath Kovind said he was shocked and anguished over the untimely demise.
"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.
It’s deeply painful for me to learn of the loss of lives in the chopper crash. I join the fellow citizens in paying tributes to each of those who died while performing their duty. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," tweets from his official handle read.
The Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu expressed his shock at the tragic death of General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff, his spouse, Madhulika Rawat, senior army officials and other staff personnel in an air crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
Conveying his deepest condolences to the members of bereaved families, the Vice President requested the audience at a function in Hyderabad today to observe two minutes’ silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls. Saluting the valour and sacrifice of General Rawat, Naidu described his death as an irreparable loss to the nation and characterised the untimely loss of lives in the air crash as a tragedy of monumental proportions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Gen Bipin Rawat as an outstanding soldier. Modi took twitter and wrote, "Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me deeply. Om Shanti."
"As India’s first CDS, Gen Rawat worked on diverse aspects relating to our armed forces including defence reforms. He brought with him a rich experience of serving in the Army. India will never forget his exceptional service," Modi's tweet read.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand has announced a three-day state mourning for the demise of the nation's first ever CDS.
Also read: CDS Gen Rawat's condition 'grim' after chopper crash
