Defence chief and 12 others killed in chopper accident

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat his wife and 11 others were killed in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday the Indian Air Force said ldquoWith deep regret it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 others died in the unfortunate accidentrdquo the IAF said in a tweetGen Bipin RawatThecopter carrying Gen Rawat and his entourage crashed in apparently foggy conditions killing the 13 people on board the IAF and other officials said The wreckage near CoonoorRawat 63 was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College DSSC Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the staff course when the fatal mishap happenedLocals cops at the sceneGroup Captain Varun Singh SC Directing Staff at DSSC and the sole survivor was undergoing treatment for injuries at the Military Hospital Wellington IAF addedSoldiers carry a victim through a settlement PicsPTI ANIThe IAF said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident involving a Mi17VH helicopter which took off from the Sulur IAF Station in nearby CoimbatoreGen Rawat and his wife MadhulikaGeneral Rawatrsquos body would be taken to New Delhi on ThursdayNarendra ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to Gen Rawat calling him ldquoan outstanding soldier and a ldquotrue patriotrdquo Defence minister Rajnath Singh also visited the residence of Rawat in the national capital and spoke to his daughterAccording to accounts of official sources and a local eyewitnesses here the helicopter was flying at a low altitude in the foggy conditions when it crashed into a valley before falling through trees Fire engulfed the helicopter by the time it landed on the groundAlthough it brushed a house during its fall there was no human casualty or injury since the inmates were not present at homelsquoNation has lost one of its bravest sonsrsquoNew Delhi President Ram Nath Kovind Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders across the political spectrum condoled the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat and hailed his contribution to the armed forces as well as the country Rawat ranked above the heads of the Army Navy and Air Force JampK Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed shock over the tragic death of General Rawat and said ldquoNation has lost one of its bravest sonsrdquoGeneral Rawat was a polo enthusiastON November 21 General Bipin Rawat was the chief guest at the Havana Cavalry Gold Cup 2021 in New Delhi A great patron of sports he was particularly keen to encourage equestrian sports and sportsmanship ldquoPolo is a challenging sport and the Army has a long tradition of associating with itrdquo he said then ldquoHis support was invaluable for the game General Rawat was a true officer and a gentleman and brought about farreaching changes in the integration of our armed forces His passing is a big loss to us allrdquo said Chetan Seth the host of the Gold CupThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoevermdashA Correspondent