NEW DELHI: The Indian military has confirmed Gen. Bipin Rawat, its chief of defense staff, and 12 others died in a helicopter crash in southern Tamil Nadu state on Wednesday.
Rawat was on board the Russian Mi-175V that was carrying 14 people, including his wife and other officers who were headed to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Coonoor district, where the military chief was scheduled to give a lecture.
The accident took place 10 km from the college’s helipad. Videos from the crash site broadcast by local news channels showed the charred wreck in a forested area, with rescuers trying to put out the fire.
“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 Indian Air Force said in a statement.
Only one person, Group Capt. Varun Singh SC, directing staff at the Defence Services Staff College, survived the accident. The air force said he is being hospitalized at the Military Hospital.
Rawat, 63, the most senior official in the Indian military, was appointed as its first chief of defense staff by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in late 2019.
Modi took to Twitter to offer his condolences.
“I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces,” he said. “They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.”
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet that Rawat’s death was an “irreparable loss.” In his over 40 years of military service, Rawat played leadership roles in India’s restive northeastern regions and led UN peacekeeping missions abroad. He also led forces in Indian-administered Kashmir.
