New Delhi: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the chopper crash that killed 13 people, including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
“The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash. The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh,” said Singh.
“The inquiry team reached Wellington yesterday itself and started the investigation,” he added briefing the Lok Sabha on the chopper crash, ANI reported.
The Defence Minister said General Rawat’s last rites will be performed with full military honours.
“The last rites of other military personnel will be performed with appropriate military honour,” he added.
Singh said that all those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to the Military Hospital in Wellington.
“Latest reports have confirmed that out of the total 14 persons onboard the ill-fated helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries. The dead include the spouse of the CDS, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel including the Air Force helicopter crew,” said Singh.
“Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja,” he added.
Singh said Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Varun Singh, the sole survivor of the chopper crash, is on life support at the Military Hospital in Wellington.
“Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. All efforts are being made to save his life,” he said.
The Defence Minister further said the bodies of those killed in helicopter crash on Wednesday will be brought to Delhi this evening.
Earlier in the day, both houses of Parliament observed a two-minute silence on the demise of General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board the IAF chopper.