From Sulur, the mortal remains of all will be flown by the Air Force to Delhi. AFP
A day after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others were killed in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Air Force said identifying all bodies was proving to be difficult because of the severity of the crash.
"The severity of the air crash has led to difficulty in positive identification of mortal remains. All possible measures are being taken for positive identification considering the sensitivities and emotional well-being of the loved ones," said government sources.
Only four bodies, including those of General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brigadier LS Lidder, have been positively identified, they said.
Close family members of all those who died are arriving in Delhi where they will be asked to identify the remains.
"Assistance of close family members for positive identification will be taken in addition to scientific measures. Mortal remains will be released to the next of Kin only after positive identification," said the sources.
They added that military rites would be ensured for of all personnel in consultation with close relatives "once the process of positive identification is completed".
According to officials, all remains found at the crash site have been moved from Wellington to Sulur by road as the weather is not fit for air operations.
From Sulur, the remains of all will be flown by the Air Force to Delhi.
"All 13 bodies are being brought in an Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft from Sulur to Delhi," sources said.
General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 more were killed when the Mi5V17 chopper they were flying in from the Sulur Air Force Base to Wellington crashed.
General Rawat's funeral will take place with full military honours tomorrow in Delhi.
General Rawat was heading to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where he was to deliver a lecture before faculty and students.
Just 10 minutes before it was to land, the chopper burst into flames and fell on the hillside, according to witnesses. Locals and rescuers found burning wreckage at the site and extricated bodies, most of them charred.
Group Captain Varun Singh, the only survivor, is being treated for severe burns and is on life support.
The others killed in the crash were General Rawat's Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh, Wing Commander PS Chauhan, Squadron Leader K Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Pradeep A, Havildar Satpal, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik Sai Teja.