Gen Rawat was strong proponent of India-US defence partnership: US

General Bipin Rawat Indias first Chief of Defence Staff who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu was a strong proponent of IndiaUS defence ties and helped deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries a senior US official has saidGeneral Rawat his wife Madhulika and 11 other people on board an Indian Air Force helicopter died in a crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday the Air Force saidThe copter carrying General Rawat and his entourage crashed in apparently foggy conditions killing the 13 people on board the IAF and other officials said One person survived the crash and is being treated at a hospitalWe are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat his wife and 11 others in that tragic helicopter crash in India today General Rawat was a valued partnerrdquo State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said at his daily news conference on WednesdayHe was a strong proponent of the USIndia defence partnership He helped to deepen the strategic partnership between our two countries He was pivotal to that relationship and thats why our thoughts go out to the generals family to the families of all those on board this flight and of course to the people of India on the loss that they have suffered todayrdquo Price saidPentagon Press Secretary John Kirby at a separate news conference said that on behalf of the entire Department of Defense Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extends their deepest condolences to the Rawat family the Indian military and the people of India after the tragic death of General Rawat in helicopter crashHe left an indelible mark on the course of the USIndia defence partnership and was at the center of the Indian Armed Forces transformation into a more jointly integrated warfighting organisationrdquo Kirby saidThe secretary had the privilege of meeting with him earlier this year and really came to view him as a valued partner and a friend to the United States Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Rawat family as they lost other family members in this crash and of course the families of all the other victims of this terrible terrible incidentrdquo he told reportersSeveral top American lawmakers expressed their condolences at the demise of the Indian general in a tragic incidentldquoI send my deepest condolences to Narendra Modi amp the people of India as they mourn the tragic deaths of General Bipin Rawat his wife Madhulika Rawat amp the 11 other crew members amp passengers lostrdquo said Senator Rick ScottldquoIndia is strong and during this time of grief the United States stands with yourdquo he tweetedldquoMy deepest condolences to the people of India after the tragic death of General Bipin Rawat head of Indias armed forces his wife amp 12 others today My thoughts amp prayers are with their familiesrdquo tweeted Senator Bill HagertyldquoMy most sincere condolences to the people of India and their armed forces for the lives lost in todays tragic aviation incident I will continue to do all I can to help our partnership grow into an enduring force for overcoming this and future adversities Congressman Michael McCaul said in a tweetldquoPlease join me in praying for India today after this staggering lossrdquo Congressman Mark Green said in a tweetGeneral Rawat is survived by two daughtersThis 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 whatsoever