Dalai Lama, Nepal PM, UN chief mourn demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday mourned the demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and others travelling with him in a fatal helicopter crashI pray for the General and his companions and offer my heartfelt condolences to the members of the families of all those who perished in this unfortunate accidentI salute General Rawats longstanding contribution in the service of the nation the spiritual leader said in a statementGeneral Rawat his wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 defence personnel were killed after the Mi17V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force crashed at Kattery in Nilgiris in Tamil Nadursquos Coonoor on Wednesday Earlier Nepals Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday said that he is deeply saddened by the tragic demise of Gen Bipin Rawat his wife and several defence officials in a helicopter crash He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved familiesDeeply saddened by the tragic demise of Gen Bipin Rawat his wife and several defence officials in a helicopter crash My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families amp the Indian Armed Forces tweeted DeubaUN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres also expressed his sadness about the death of Rawat and shared his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and to the people and government of India said Stephane Dujarric spokesman for the UN chief according to a Xinhua report Rawat served the United Nations with distinction and his work was fully appreciated he saidHe was brigade commander of the North Kivu Brigade of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2008 and 2009The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III on Wednesday local time said that they are deeply saddened by this loss Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rawat family and the families of the other victims of the crash We are deeply saddened by this loss said Austin I and the Department extend our deepest condolences to the Rawat family the Indian military and the people of India after the tragic passing of Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash added AustinHere are some of the other reactions by foreign officials Heartaching to learn of helicopter crash in India claiming 13 precious lives including the Chief of Defense Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and wife People of Bhutan and I offer prayers for India and the bereaved families May you find strength to see through the tragedyPMOIndiamdash PM Bhutan PMBhutan December 8 2021I was deeply saddened to learn about the deadly helicopter crash that killed Indias Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat his wife and 11 others in Tamil NaduMy thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims May they rest in peace mdash Benjamin Netanyahu netanyahu December 8 2021With inputs from ANI