New Delhi: An IAF chopper has crashed in Coonoor district of Tamil Nadu carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat. As per the latest reports, CDS Rawat has been taken to the hospital.
Four bodies have been recovered and three injured persons have been rescued from the IAF helicopter crash site in Tamil Nadu, as per official sources.
Gen. Bipin Rawat is India's first and only Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who assumed office on January 1, 2020. Before taking over as the CDS, he served as 57th Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as well as 27th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
Rawat was born in Pauri, Uttarakhand. He went to Cambrian Hall School in Dehradun. He is also the alumnus of St. Edward's School, Shimla. Later, he joined the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
Rawat was awarded the 'Sword of Honour' at the Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned into the 5th battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1978. Moreover, he has completed an MPhil in Defence Studies as well as a diploma in Management and Computer Studies from Madras University.
General Bipin Rawat commanded an Infantry Battalion the Line of Actual Control (LAC), an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley, and also a Multinational Brigade, in a Chapter VII mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) with the United Nations.
Rawat has been awarded for gallantry and distinguished service with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) and the COAS Commendation on a couple of occasions.
Gen Bipin Rawat is married to Madhulika Rawat who is the president of the Army Women Welfare Association. It is reported that Madhulika Rawat was also present with the CDS during the time of the helicopter crash.