The pinnacle of India’s armed forces, Common Bipin Rawat, was amongst 13 folks killed on Wednesday when the navy helicopter they had been touring in crashed, the air power mentioned.
They had been en route from an air power base to a hillside navy school within the southern state of Tamil Nadu when the Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopter got here down close to the city of Coonoor.
Native tv footage confirmed rescuers and armed forces personnel carrying our bodies up steep slopes from the mangled wreckage. Solely one of many 14 folks on board survived and was in hospital with accidents.
“With deep remorse, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, (his spouse) Mrs. Madhulika Rawat, and 11 different individuals on board have died,” the Air Power mentioned in a press release.
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Rawat, 63, was appointed as India’s first Chief of Defence Workers by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities in late 2019. The place was arrange with the purpose of integrating India’s three navy companies — the Military, the Navy and the Air Power.
A number of of the our bodies had been badly burnt, two authorities sources mentioned. “Some our bodies had been so charred that they may not be instantly recognized,” one of many sources mentioned.
Modi mentioned he was deeply saddened by Rawat’s dying. “A real patriot, he significantly contributed to modernizing our armed forces and safety equipment,” the prime minister mentioned.
In a tweet, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh referred to as Rawat’s dying “an irreparable loss to our armed forces and the nation.”
Canada’s Chief of Defence Workers, Common Wayne Eyre, additionally provided condolences.
“It’s with deep unhappiness that I discovered of the dying of India’s Chief of Protection Workers, Common Bipin Rawat, alongside along with his spouse, Mrs. Madhulika Rawat, and 11 different souls in a helicopter crash,” Eyre mentioned in a tweet Wednesday.
“Our two militaries fought as allies in two World Wars, and proceed to share an everlasting relationship. On behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces, I prolong my condolences to the households and associates of these misplaced, and all of the Indian Armed forces.”
The Indian Air Power ordered an inquiry into the reason for the accident.
India has dozens of Mi-17s in service. They’re extensively deployed to move senior military personnel and authorities ministers.
“It is a secure, confirmed helicopter, I’ve traveled on it in troublesome conditions,” former military chief J.J.Singh mentioned.
An infantryman with over 4 a long time of navy service, Rawat served alongside India’s border with China, the disputed Kashmir area and on a United Nations mission in Africa, earlier than taking cost of the Indian military in late 2016.
In New Delhi, Defence Minister Singh visited Rawat’s official residence and the state broadcaster mentioned Modi had summoned a gathering of the cupboard committee on safety on Wednesday night.
