India’s top military commander has been killed in a helicopter crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu
The Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in the hills outside Coonoor city on Wednesday morning, killing Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 people. One survivor is being treated at a hospital for his injuries. In January 2019, Gen. Rawat, 63, became India’s first Chief of Defence Staff. Gen Rawat has been in charge of a variety of missions, including in Indian-administered Kashmir, and this brought together the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Indian Air Force announced that an investigation into the accident, which occurred in hazy circumstances, had been requested. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing an emergency meeting of the cabinet security committee.
“[Gen Rawat] brought with him a wealth of Army expertise,” Mr Modi wrote on Twitter. His outstanding service to India will be remembered for a long time.
“A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptions. His passing away has saddened me deeply.”
Images from the crash site showed strong plumes of smoke billowing from the mangled wreckage of the chopper, as well as locals attempting to extinguish the blaze. The chopper had just taken off from the army post in Sulur and was on its way to Wellington, which was just around 100 kilometers (62 miles) away, where Gen Rawat was scheduled to attend the Defence Services Staff College.
A captain who works at the institution is the only survivor of the crash. Despite the fact that the Russian-built Mi-17V5 is one of the most advanced military transport helicopters on the market, India’s aging air force aircraft is frequently blamed for a high number of crashes.
#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
Former army chief J J Singh described the helicopter as “a safe, proven chopper” that he has personally used in challenging conditions.
In 2017, a collision in the northeastern province of Arunachal Pradesh killed seven military men. The helicopter was taking part in a training mission.
A year before that, another of the helicopters had crashed immediately after take-off during a military drill in the northern state of Uttarakhand. No casualties were reported.
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