Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said that General Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff, was a visionary who initiated far-reaching reforms in the military's higher defence organisation.

The comments came after a tragic incident on Wednesday, General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others were killed after the IAF chopper they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Naravane and all ranks of the force expressed their deepest grief and sorrow over the untimely demise of General Rawat, his wife and other military personnel.