General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others died in a helicopter crash yesterday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others who were killed in yesterday's chopper crash, at the Palam airport in Delhi. The bodies of Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other victims were brought to Delhi in the evening.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who earlier in the day briefed the Parliament on the chopper crash, also paid tribute to the chopper crash victims along with the chiefs of the three armed forces.
Earlier in the day, an ambulance carrying the body of one of the crash victims met with a minor accident today near Sulur in Tamil Nadu, following which the body was shifted to another standby ambulance in the convoy. The bodies were then flown to Delhi from the Sulur Air Base.
Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the fatal crash, was airlifted to a hospital in Bengaluru from a military hospital in Wellington. He will be treated at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru.
General Rawat's funeral will take place with full military honours on Friday in Delhi.
Here are all the highlights on this big news of the day:
Opposition Sought To Pay Tribute To Crash Victims, Not Allowed: Congress LeaderOpposition leaders on Thursday demanded a few minutes to pay tributes to Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 defence personnel after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the chopper crash near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor, but were not allowed the same, reported news agency ANI.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the "attitude" and called it "unfortunate".
"After Defence Minister's statement in Rajya Sabha, Opposition demanded 1-2 minutes for each MP to pay tribute to CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and others who died in the chopper crash. But we were not allowed. It is unfortunate and we condemn this attitude," he told news agency ANI.
Bodies Of All 13 Chopper Crash Victims To Be Taken To Army Base HospitalThe bodies of all 13 chopper crash victims to be taken to the Army base hospital now. General Bipin Rawat and Madhulika Rawat's bodies will be taken to their residence at 9 AM tomorrow from the Army base hospital.
Chiefs Of 3 Services Pay Tribute To Gen Rawat, Other Chopper Crash Victims
Chiefs of the three armed forces pay tribute to the chopper crash victims.
PM Modi Offers Floral Tribute To Gen Rawat, Other Chopper Crash VictimsPrime Minister Narendra Modi offers floral tribute to General Bipin Rawat, his wife and the other chopper crash victims. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tribute to the victims.
Sri Lankan President Mourns General Bipin Rawat's Death In Chopper CrashSri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has condoled the death of General Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff, who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu, reported news agency PTI. In a tweet, President Rajapaksa said: "Deeply saddened to hear of the sudden demise of General #BipinRawat, Mrs Rawat & others in the tragic helicopter accident in Tamil Nadu. I extend my condolences to the families & to all Indians on behalf of the people of #SriLanka".
PM Modi, Rajnath Singh Reach Palam Airbase For Crash Victims' Tribute Ceremony
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and the chiefs of the three services have arrived at Palam airbase for the tribute ceremony of the victims of chopper crash.
Watch: General Rawat, Other Chopper Crash Victims' Bodies Land In Delhi
Bodies Of Chopper Crash Victims Brought To Delhi
The Indian Air Force flight carrying the bodies of the chopper crash victims has reached Delhi's Palam airbase. The family members of Gen Bipin Rawat, who was among the crash victims, have reached the airport.
Brigadier Lidder's Last Rites Planned At Brar Square Crematorium At 9 AM Tomorrow
The last rites of Brigadier LS Lidder are planned at the Brar Square Crematorium, Delhi Cantonment at 9 AM on December 10.
Final Journey Of Gen Rawat To Start From His Residence At 2 PM TomorrowGen Bipin Rawat's body will be kept at his residence on December 10 for all to pay their last respects. The broad timings for this are - 11 AM-12:30 PM for civil dignitaries and citizens and 12:30-1:30 PM for military personnel. The final journey of Gen Bipin Rawat from his residence to the Brar Square Crematorium is scheduled to start from his residence at about 2 PM.
Case Filed, 26 Witnesses Questioned So Far In Chopper Crash CaseA case has been registered at Upper Coonoor under Section 174 CrPC. Total 26 witnesses have been questioned in the chopper crash case as of now, including the first responders in the village.
Crash Victims' Bodies To Reach Delhi Around 7:40 PM, Tribute Ceremony At 8:30 PMThe Air Force aircraft carrying the bodies of General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other chopper crash victims, is expected to arrive at Delhi's Palam airbase by 7:40 PM today. The tribute ceremony is scheduled from 8:30 PM onwards. Positive identification of only three bodies has been possible as of now, including Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and Brig LS Lidder. Their mortal remains will be handed over to their family members for the final religious rites as desired by their families.
The process for positive identification of the remaining bodies is on. The bodies will be kept at the mortuary of Army Base Hospital till completion of positive identification formalities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the chiefs of the three services will be present at the tribute ceremony, reported news agency ANI.
All 13 Crash Victims' Bodies Being Flown To Delhi By Air Force Aircraft
Bodies of all 13 crash victims, including Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, are being brought back to Delhi on a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft belonging to the Air Force. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, who had flown down yesterday to the crash site, has returned to Delhi to also receive the bodies.
PM Modi To Lead Tributes To Crash Victims When Bodies Arrive In Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and NSA Ajit Doval will pay final tributes to General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and the 11 air force personnel who died in the chopper crash yesterday, when their bodies arrive at Delhi's Palam Air Force base this evening, ANI reported, citing sources.
Telangana Governor Pays Floral Tribute To Gen Rawat, Other Chopper Crash VictimsGovernor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday paid floral tribute to Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and others who died in yesterday's chopper crash, at Madras Regimental Centre in Nilgiris district, reported news agency ANI.
Mamata Banerjee's Condolence Message For Soldier Who Died In Chopper CrashChief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday extended condolences to the family of Havildar Satpal Rai, who was among the 13 people who died in the chopper crash yesterday, including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.
"Satpal Rai from Tukdah Tea Estate, Darjeeling was the personal security of the Chief of Defence Staff, late General Bipin Rawat, who was also a victim of the incident. I have expressed my deep condolence yesterday on this irreparable loss of the nation," the chief minister said in a statement.
"Satpal Rai has dedicated his life to the motherland. The demise of this brave son of the hills is an irreparable loss. We will always remember the sacrifice of Bengal's brave son Satpal Rai. I express my deepest sympathy to his bereaved mother and members of his family. I have written to his bereaved mother today morning expressing my pain on this untimely demise," she said.
"Besides, I also express my heartfelt condolence to the kin of all other defence personnel who died in that tragic accident yesterday," the statement added.
Lone Crash Survivor Group Captain Varun Singh Airlifted To BengaluruLone crash survivor Group Captain Varun Singh has been airlifted to Bengaluru from Sulur. He will be treated at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the parliament this morning that Group Captain Singh is on life support and "all efforts are being made to save him". Group Captain Singh was taken from the crash site to the military hospital in Wellington yesterday with severe burn injuries.
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Lone Crash Survivor Group Captain Varun Singh Being Moved To Bengaluru HospitalGroup Captain Varun Singh, the lone crash survivor who is on life support, is being shifted to a Bengaluru hospital, say defence authorities in Nilgiris. Earlier, he was being treated at a military hospital in Wellington. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the parliament earlier in the day that he is on life support and "all efforts are being made to save him".
Ambulance Carrying Crash Victim Meets With Accident Near Sulur
One of the ambulances carrying the body of one of the crash victims met with an accident near Sulur. The body was immediately transferred to another standby ambulance that was part of the convoy.
Air Force Pilot, Only Survivor Of Crash, On Life Support: Defence Minister
Group Captain Varun Singh, the only survivor of the helicopter crash in which Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others were killed, is "critical, but stable". Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament that he is on life support and "all efforts are being made to save him".
Group Captain Singh is being treated for severe burn injuries at the military hospital in Wellington.
"He is critical but stable at the moment," said officials today.
The Air Force officer won the Shaurya Chakra in August for his courage in handling his aircraft after it was hit by major technical issues during a sortie last year. He landed his Tejas fighter safely despite the mid-air emergency.
All those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to the Military Hospital, Wellington. Latest reports have confirmed that out of the total 14 persons onboard the ill-fated helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries: Defence Minister In Lok Sabha
Subsequently, few locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of military helicopter engulfed in flames: Defence Minister In Lok Sabha
The Air Force Mi 17 V 5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11:48 AM yesterday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 PM. Air Traffic Control at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12:08 PM: Defence Minister
"With profound grief and heavy heart, I stand to convey the unfortunate news of the crash of the military helicopter in the noon of 8th December 2021, with India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat onboard": Defence Minister In Lok Sabha
Rajnath Singh begins his statement on Helicopter crash
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has started speaking on the helicopter crash in Parliament.
Opposition Not To Protest At Parliament Today
"We have decided not to protest (against the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs) today in honour of General Bipin Rawat and the soldiers who died in the chopper crash and to pay tribute to them. We will also attend Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's address," said Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
3-Day State Mourning On General Rawat's Death In UttarakhandThe Uttarakhand government declared a three-day state mourning over the death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.
General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others were killed in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
Describing his death as an "irreparable loss" to the country, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Uttarakhand will always be proud of its son.
When did the helicopter crash?
The helicopter crashed shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur at 11.45 am, Coimbatore. It was on its way to Wellington in Nilgiri Hills where General Rawat was to address a gathering at the Defence Services Staff College.