New Delhi: India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Singh Rawat, was among 13 people who were killed on Wednesday when an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper lost control and crashed, apparently due to foggy conditions, near Coonoor district in Tamil Nadu.
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In a video released by the news agency ANI, the final moments of the Mi-17 chopper has been captured before it crashed in Coonoor.
A group of locals captured in the video can be seen walking in the railway track looking at the chopper in the sky. The video shot by locals shows the helicopter flying and vanishing away in seconds. ABP Live could not independently verify the authenticity of the video
Among those who lost their lives in the crash include General Bipin Rawat's wife, Madhulika Rawat, Brig LS Lidder, Lt Col H Singh, Wg Cdr PS Chauhan, Sqn Ldr K Singh, JWO Das, JWO Pradeep A, Hav Satpal, Nk Gursewak Singh, Nk Jitender, L/Nk Vivek and L/Nk S Teja.
The lone survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, Directing Staff at DSSC, is currently under treatment at a military hospital in nearby Wellington.
Group Captain Varun Singh’s health condition is critical but stable. He is under watch and if required, he can be shifted from the Military Hospital, Wellington to the Command Hospital, Bangalore, according to news agency ANI sources.
Soon after the Indian Air Forces confirmed the death of General Rawat, his wife and others, several leaders including President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers of several states condoled the death hailed him as an outstanding soldier.