Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has directed Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari to travel to the military plane crash site in Tamil Nadu, where the chopper carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was involved in an accident on Wednesday. Singh is also keeping an eye on the issue, and a meeting of senior defense ministry officials is taking place right now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been informed about the crash by the Defence Minister.
When their military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor, General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and their staff were on their way to Wellington to give a lecture.
The exact number of casualties is still unknown, and local police have confirmed that only three people have been rescued, with others being sought.
General Rawat, Madhulika Rawat, Brigadier L.S. Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Naik Vivek Kumar, Naik B. Sai Teja, Havaldar Satpal, and pilots were also present.
“An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat onboard, met with an accident today in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu,” the Indian Air Force tweeted, confirming General Rawat’s attendance.
According to the police department, an investigation into the collision has been requested. The rescued individuals were transferred to Wellington cantonment with critical injuries.
