General Bipin Rawat had survived a chopper crash in 2015
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Dec 09, 2021: India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat died on Wednesday, December 8 in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor. Thirteen others, including Rawat’s wife Madhulika Rawat also died in the accident.
This was not the first time that General Bipin Rawat was involved in an air mishap. More than six years ago, the late Chief of Defence Staff survived a chopper crash with minor injuries in Nagaland on February 3, 2015. At the time, he had held the rank of Lieutenant General and headed the army’s Dimapur-based HQs 3 Corps.
The helicopter, which had climbed around 20 meters, crashed within seconds of taking off from Dimapur. Along with Rawat, two pilots and another colonel also survived the crash that took place due to suspected engine failure, according to reports. However, Rawa did not survive the deadly accident which took place at around 12.20 pm on December 8.
Rawat, 63, a four-star general in the Indian Army, was appointed as India’s first Chief of Defense Staff in 2019. He had previously served as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
The fatal crash was termed “extremely unfortunate” by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
“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 tweeted Wednesday evening.
The MI series helicopter was carrying 14 people.The others onboard included personal security officers and two other staff of the CDS. Thirteen people were killed in the crash, while GP Captain Varun Singh is receiving treatment.
"Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington," the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.
CDS Bipin Rawat had been scheduled to speak at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington Cantonment on Wednesday afternoon, around 2.45 pm. According to officials, the chopper had been en route from the Sulur IAF base to DSSC when it crashed. The mishap happened near Kattery Park, about 10 km from the helipad in the Nanjappanchathiram area. The site of the accident was on a Ghat road between Mettupalayam and Coonoor.
Courtesy:The News Minute