New Delhi: India’s first Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, died in a helicopter crash today, December 8, 2021, in Coonoor, along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 military personnel including Brigadier LS Lidder, SM, VSM.
The Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying the defense senior officials was on its way to Sulur in Coimbatore to attend the defense staff college event in Wellington and it crashed in the south of the country apparently due to poor visibility following heavy fog around the forest area. The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry regarding the accident.
The sole survivor of the IAF helicopter crash, Group Captain Varun Singh, is battling for life having sustained 90% burn injuries at the local hospital in Tamil Nadu.
The mishap took place in the early afternoon hours soon after the IAF helicopter, Mi-17 V5, that is traditionally regarded to be the safest brand for ferrying VVIPs, took off from the Sulur Air force base at Coimbatore, heading towards Wellington located in the Nilgiri Hill area of Tamil Nadu. Witness accounts that inspected the site of the tragedy disclosed that the copter was slated to land within a span of 10 minutes, when the mishap took place and it was way off from any road access, making it very difficult for emergency relief workers to scale and reach the accident site.
By late afternoon, video footage was available that spotted the copter’s wreckage strewn across the hilly terrain with thick smoke and fire billowing out, making it tough for the rescuers to carry out any extrication. The locals from the hillside assisted the police in removing the charred remnants of several bodies from the maze of metal parts and fallen trees. Local administrators claimed that the copter was about to make its descent when the crash took place.
The 63-year-old Rawat took charge as India’s first Chief of Defence staff in 2019 after the Centre decided to provide an integrated model aimed at bringing the services of the Army, the Navy and the Air force under a single umbrella. Rawat was also holding an additional portfolio, by heading the department of Military affairs.
The crash had also claimed the lives of Rawat’s defence assistant, security commandos, and IAF personnel at the accident site near Coonoor, in Tamil Nadu. Reports of the crash soon reached Parliament when in the middle of the winter session. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh immediately briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Singh subsequently dropped his plans of visiting the crash site immediately and decided to continue monitoring the proceedings from Delhi. The casualties also included Madhulika Rawat, the late general’s wife.
A slew of condolence messages poured in from across the political strata including President Ram Nath Kovind, who tweeted, “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.”
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the death, describing Rawat as the bravest soldier and bemoaning his loss as the saddest moment for the country. The Union Home minister also offered prayers for the speedy recovery of the sole survivor, Varun Singh.
General Rawat had taken charge in January 2019 as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff. The position was specially made to unite the three services of India- the Indian Navy, India Army, and Indian Air Force. He was also appointed the head of the Military Affairs Department.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a special Cabinet Committee on Security meeting along with Home Minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. Modi recalled that as India’s first CDS General Bipin Rawat worked on different aspects relating to the three-armed forces – Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. “He brought his rich experience serving in the army, India will always remember his exceptional service,” Modi tweeted.
Indian Army and other senior officials expressed their deepest grief and sorrow over the untimely demise of General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other military personnel in air mishap.
In a statement released by Indian Army, General MM Naravane and all ranks of the Indian Army expressed their deepest grief and sorrow over the untimely demise of General Rawat, his wife and 11 other military personnel.
“Rawat was a visionary who initiated far reaching army reforms in the Indian armed forces. He was instrumental in creating the foundation of India’s joint theatre commands and giving impetus to the increased indigenisation of military equipment, a legacy that will be carried on and strengthened by successive generations.
-global bihari bureau
