Chennai: In an unfortunate incident, an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying Chief Defence of Staff Bipin Rawat and his family members crashed in Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, official sources said. Reports said that the Mi-series chopper was also carrying defence officials and IAF staff that crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu.
In media reports, A total of nine persons, including CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier LS Lidder, Lt Colonel Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and B Sai Teja and Havaldar Sapal were on board the ill-fated Mi-17V5 chopper.
Some media reports said that Bipin Rawat and three others were injured in the helicopter crash incident, while one person is missing.
Meanwhile, reports said that military personnel have reached the crash location and were told that locals have taken two bodies with 80 per cent burns to a local hospital.
Few bodies can be seen downhill in the area of the accident. Efforts are on to retrieve the bodies and check identities, sources said.
Meanwhile, IAF confirmed that an IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, crashed in Tamil Nadu. The Air Force has ordered an enquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.
“An 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,” IAF tweeted.
#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper. pic.twitter.com/6oxG7xD8iW
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
