Bipin Rawat: The crash took place in the Nilgiris.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife were among 13 killed in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the Air Force said. Sole survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, is being treated for 90 per cent burn injuries, it added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said General Bipin Rawat was an "outstanding soldier" and that "India will never forget his exceptional service".
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the death of the top defence official and said, "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".
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the accident an unprecedented tragedy. "I extend my condolences to the family of Gen Bipin Rawat and his wife. This is an unprecedented tragedy and our thoughts are with their family in this difficult time. Heartfelt condolences also to all others who lost their lives," he wrote on Twitter.
General Bipin Rawat's Defence Assistant, security commandos and Indian Air Force personnel were also among the 14 on board in a Mi-17 V5 chopper that "met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu," the air force said.
Visuals showed the badly damaged chopper in flames, possibly under the impact of the crash. The accident site was a scene of despair with trees being reduced to broken pieces under the impact of the crash, flames from the chopper engulfing the wooden logs resulting in billowing smoke and personnel scurrying to douse the fire, including using buckets and water hose.
What seemed to be some charred bodies were also seen lying around.
Here are the Highlights on Air Force Chopper Crash With CDS Bipin Rawat Onboard:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to make a statement in Lok Sabha at 11:15 AM and in Rajya Sabha around 12 PM on the Air Force chopper crash.
RSS on General Bipin Rawat's deathThe RSS on Wednesday expressed anguish over the death of Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash and said the country has lost "a great security strategist and a true patriot" in his passing away.
The Indian Army had set "new paradigms of valour" under the leadership of General Rawat, RSS Sarkaryavah (general secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale said.
General Bipin Rawat and his wife will be cremated on Friday in Delhi Cantonment. Their bodies are expected to arrive in the national capital in a military plane by tomorrow evening.
Three-day State mourning in Uttarkhand on the demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other Armed Forces personnel in a helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu earlier today, said Abhinav Kumar, Additional Principal Secretory to Uttarakhand Chief Minister
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement on Tamil Nadu helicopter crash in both the Houses of Parliament tomorrow.
US condoles General Bipin Rawat's death
The US Embassy extended its deepest condolences to the Rawat family and the families of those who perished in the tragic helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.
As India's first Chief of Defence Staff, General Rawat spearheaded a historic period of transformation in the military. He was a strong friend and partner of the United States, overseeing a major expansion of India's defense cooperation with the US military. In September, he spent five days traveling throughout the United States as part of a counterpart visit with General Mark Milley to discuss military developments and opportunities to enhance our cooperation with like-minded countries. His legacy will continue on.
In the top security meeting, all members observed two minutes of silence and paid tributes to all those who lost their lives in the chopper crash.
General Bipin Rawat Dies: Group Captain Is Sole Survivor Of Chopper CrashGroup Captain Varun Singh is the sole survivor of the military helicopter crash that occurred this afternoon in Tamil Nadu, killing India's top military officer, General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others.
Group Captain Varun Singh is being treated for severe burn injuries at the military hospital in Wellington. He 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.
General Bipin Rawat Dies: Shocked and saddened beyond words, says BS Yediyurappa
"Shocked and saddened beyond words at the most tragic death of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other Officers in the helicopter crash. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and prayers for the injured officer. Om Shanti," tweeted BS Yediyurappa.
Indian Air Force's Group Captain Varun Singh, injured in an air force chopper crash which killed General Bipin Rawat, was awarded Shaurya Chakra on this year's Independence Day for saving his LCA Tejas fighter aircraft during an aerial emergency in 2020, reports news agency ANI.
PM Modi On General Bipin Rawat
"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," wrote PM Modi on Twitter.
PM Modi On General Bipin Rawat: "An Outstanding Soldier"
General Bipin Rawat dies in chopper crash: Shocked and anguished, tweets President
"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," tweeted President Ram Nath Kovind.
Defence Chief dies in crash: "A very sad day," says Amit Shah
General Bipin Rawat Dies In Chopper Crash: Defence Minister Says "Deeply Anguished"
"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. His untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country," said Rajnath Singh.
Just In | Chief Of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat dies in helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu
"This is one of the worst tragedies as far as the military is concerned": Major General GG Dwivedi (Retd), Defence Analyst
General Bipin Rawat's chopper crashes: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to rush to accident site
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will visit the spot in the Nilgiris, Coonoor where a Mi-17V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 13 others crashed on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister will travel to Coimbatore from Chennai and later move to The Nilgiris to take stock of the mishap in which five people are confirmed to have died and two others have been reported with severe injuries in the crash.
Just In | Cabinet Committee on Security to meet at 6.30 PM at PM Modi's residence
General Bipin Rawat chopper crash: Mi17V5 is advanced transport helicopter with Air Force since 2012
The Mi17V5 helicopter, which crashed with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat and 13 other people onboard on Wednesday, is an advanced military transport chopper that has been with the Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2012.
Manufactured by Russian Helicopters' subsidiary Kazan, the helicopter has an onboard weather radar and is equipped with the latest generation of night vision devices.
It also has the new PKV-8 autopilot system and a KNEI-8 avionics suite. It can carry a maximum take off weight of 13,000 kg and maximum payload weight of 4,000 kg.
India had in 2008 signed a deal with Russia to induct 80 Mi17V5 medium lift helicopters for strengthening its chopper fleet for humanitarian and disaster relief missions and transport operations.
The contract was later expanded for delivery of 151 Mi17V5 helicopters.
The first batch of these helicopters came to India in September 2011.
Gen Rawat Was On "Very Safe" Air Force Chopper, Crash Stuns Experts
The Mi-17V-5 helicopters are extremely reliable and are the workhorses of the Air Force, several former army officers told NDTV after one of these choppers crashed in Tamil Nadu, with Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and his wife among 14 people on board. The crash perplexed the experts, who said the flight from Sulur to Wellington did not involve complications.
Just in - Army Chief is at General Bipin Rawat's residence after the chopper crash which killed 13 on board.
Defence Chief Bipin Rawat's Chopper Crashed 10 km From Nearest Road
Gen Bipin Rawat chopper crash: Mamata Banerjee Stops Meeting Midway Hearing About Defence Chief's Chopper CrashWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ended an administrative review meeting midway as soon as she came to know that an army chopper with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat on board crashed in Tamil Nadu.
"We have received sad news. I am shocked. I have no words to express my grief. I am ending this meeting," she said and left the venue of the meeting.
An Indian Air Force helicopter with Gen Bipin Rawat on board met with an accident today near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Four bodies are known to have been retrieved from the site of the incident.
Concerned ministry to share information on chopper crash at appropriate time: CentreUnion I&B Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said information about the helicopter accident in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu will be shared by the ministry concerned at an appropriate time.
"The entire information about the accident that has taken place will be shared by the concerned ministry at an appropriate time," Mr Thakur told reporters when asked about the helicopter crash involving Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat.
Defence Chief Bipin Rawat's chopper crashed 10 kms from nearest road
A helicopter carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat crashed this morning. There were 14 people on board. The government has not yet commented on the condition of General Rawat, whose wife was travelling with him.
At 4.14 pm, Tamil Nadu government officials said that five of the passengers were found dead, two were hospitalized with severe burns, and the remaining had yet to be found.
They refused to comment on General Rawat, saying the Defence Ministry will share more details on him.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to give a statement in Parliament tomorrow, say sources
Rajnath Singh at Gen Bipin Rawat's residence
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reached General Bipin Rawat's residence
IAF chopper crash: Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari is reaching Sulur airbase.
: Gen Bipin Rawat's chopper crashes: 5 dead, situation of two others critical, says Tamil Nadu Minister
I have reached here (chopper crash site) on the instructions of the Chief Minister. Out of the 14 people on board, five people have died and the situation of two others is critical. Rescue operation is underway, said Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ramachandran.
Gen Bipin Rawat's chopper crashes: 5 Dead, 2 injured, search on for 7 others
Five bodies have been found from the crash site and two persons have been taken to hospital with severe burn injuries. A search is on for seven others.
Gen Bipin Rawat's Chopper Crashes: What We Know So Far - 10 Points
Defence Minister To Brief Parliament On Helicopter CrashDefence minister Rajnath Singh will brief parliament on the crash of an air force chopper in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. The Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat, his staff and family members were on board the Mi-series chopper, which crashed in Coonoor, a spot between Coimbatore and Sulur. Four people are dead and another four who survived, have been taken to a hospital. Their identities are not known yet.
News agency ANI reported that the chopper was carrying 14 people -- nine of them passengers and five crew members.
Following army protocol, Mr Singh has already briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, sources said.
Sources said Mr Singh, who is attending a meeting with senior officials of his ministry, will brief the Lok Sabha shortly. For now, he will not travel to Tamil Nadu and is monitoring the situation from Delhi, sources said.
The Mi-17V5 helicopter was airborne from Sulur for Wellington. There were 14 persons on board, including the crew, said the Air Force in a statement.
Chopper Crash Updates
Army Chopper Crash Updates
Reports at this time say five people have died and two have survived; they are in hospital with severe burn injuries. News agency ANI, quoting sources, said the injured have been taken to the military hospital at the Wellingdon base. Details about the rest are not known so far.
Army Chopper Crash Updates
Army Chopper Crash UpdatesChief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat was on an army chopper that crashed in Tamil Nadu a short while ago.
General Rawat's staff and family members were also among the nine people on board.