- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE mortal remains of General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and other armed forces personnel, who were killed in a military helicopter crash in a forested area in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday (8), is expected to be flown to New Delhi by Thursday (9) evening, sources said.
The Indian Air Force on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of General Rawat, India’s first chief of defence staff and others after the Mi-17V5 helicopter they were travelling in crashed.
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“With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident,” the air force tweeted.
Indian chief of defence staff Bipin Rawat, wife & personnel killed in helicopter crash
The tragedy happened around noon, shortly after the chopper took off from the Sulur air base in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu for the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers.
The Indian Air Force issued a list of names of Rawat’s staff members who were on board the ill-fated helicopter.
They include: Brigadier LS Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kumar, L/NK Vivek Kumar, L/NK B Sai Teja, and Hav Satpal.
The IAF has ordered an inquiry into the accident.
