Synopsis
NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force on Wednesday announced the demise of Chief General Bipin Rawat along with 12 others in a chopper crash.
NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force on Wednesday announced the demise of Chief General Bipin Rawat along with 12 others in a chopper crash.
Rawat is India’s first chief of defence staff, a position that the government established in 2019, and is seen as close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Indian Air Force announces the demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat along with 12 others in chopper crash pic.twitter.com/8Ebrz6OoQZ
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
The 63-year-old was travelling in a Russian-made Mi-17 chopper that “met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu”, the Indian Air Force said on Twitter.
Rawat and his wife were on board along with other officers and were headed to the Defence Services Staff College, a senior army officer told AFP.
Videos broadcast on Indian news channels showed a fiery wreck at the crash site in a dense forested area near the college in Nilgiris district.
Media reports said the chopper took off from Sulur Air Force Station on Wednesday afternoon.
AdvertisementAn IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021
Career officer
Rawat comes from a military family with several generations having served in the Indian armed forces.
The general joined the army as a second lieutenant in 1978 and has four decades of service behind him, having commanded forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir and along the Line of Actual Control bordering China.
He is credited with reducing insurgency on India’s northeastern frontier and supervised a cross-border counter-insurgency operation into neighbouring Myanmar.
Rawat was chief of the 1.3 million-strong army from 2017 to 2019 before his elevation to defence services chief, which analysts said was to improve integration between the army, navy and air force.
#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.
(Video Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/YkBVlzsk1J
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
He is considered close to the Modi government and turned heads last month when he reportedly made an approving reference to “lynching terrorists” in the contested territory of Kashmir.
The Mi-17 helicopter, which first entered service in the 1970s and is in wide use by defence services around the world, has been involved in a number of accidents over the years.
Fourteen people died in a crash last month when an Azerbaijani military Mi-17 chopper went down during a training flight.
In 2019, four Indonesian soldiers were killed and five others wounded in central Java in another training accident involving the aircraft.
India’s air force said an inquiry was underway into Wednesday’s accident.
Condolences
As soon as the IAF confirmed the death of the Indian CDS, condolences started pouring in from across the country.
President of India Ram Nath Kovind anguished at the demise said the nation had lost one of its bravest sons.
“His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences to his family,” he added.
I am shocked and anguished over the untimely demise of Gen. Bipin Rawat and his wife, Madhulika ji. The nation has lost one of its bravest sons. His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences to his family.
Advertisement— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 8, 2021
In another tweet, the president condoled the death of other 11 people in the chopper crash,
“It’s deeply painful for me to learn of the loss of lives in the chopper crash. I join the fellow citizens in paying tributes to each of those who died while performing their duty. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” he said.
It’s deeply painful for me to learn of the loss of lives in the chopper crash. I join the fellow citizens in paying tributes to each of those who died while performing their duty. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Advertisement— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 8, 2021
Expressing grief, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which India lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces.
“They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he added.
I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces. They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.
Advertisement— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2021
He went on to say that General Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier.
“A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me deeply,” he stated.
Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me deeply. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/YOuQvFT7Et
Advertisement— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2021
“As India’s first CDS, General Rawat worked on diverse aspects relating to our armed forces including defence reforms. He brought with him a rich experience of serving in the army. India will never forget his exceptional service,” he added.
As India’s first CDS, Gen Rawat worked on diverse aspects relating to our armed forces including defence reforms. He brought with him a rich experience of serving in the Army. India will never forget his exceptional service.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2021
External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar was “deeply shocked at tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife”.
“We worked closely together in the last few years. It is a huge loss to the nation,” he said in a tweet.
Deeply shocked at tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife.
We worked closely together in the last few years. It is a huge loss to the nation.
Advertisement— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 8, 2021
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the accident was “extremely unfortunate”.
“His [General Bipin Rawat] untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country,” he added.
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.
AdvertisementHis untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 8, 2021
Indian Union Minister Amit Shah remembered him as “one of the bravest soldiers, who has served the motherland with utmost devotion”.
“His exemplary contributions and commitment cannot be put into words. I am deeply pained,” the minister stated.
AdvertisementA very sad day for the nation as we have lost our CDS, General Bipin Rawat Ji in a very tragic accident. He was one of the bravest soldiers, who has served the motherland with utmost devotion. His exemplary contributions & commitment cannot be put into words. I am deeply pained.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 8, 2021
“My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this tragic loss,” he added.
I also express my deepest condolences on the sad demise of Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other Armed Forces personnel. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this tragic loss.
AdvertisementPraying for the speedy recovery of Gp Capt Varun Singh.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 8, 2021
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