The defense minister said the investigation would be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh
New Delhi:
Both houses of parliament witnessed a two-minute silence today over Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat and 12 others killed in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu yesterday.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh briefed both houses on the crash and announced that the sole survivor, Captain Varun Singh, is being given life support.
The minister said a three-service investigation has been requested by the Indian Air Force and it will be led by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Commander-in-Chief of Air Force Officer Training.
Rajnath Singh said: “The Chief of the General Staff of Defense will be cremated with full military honor. I pay respects on behalf of the House of Commons and express my condolences to the bereaved.”
General Rawat was flown to Wellington Wednesday afternoon to speak to faculty and students of the College of Defense Service Staff as the Air Force helicopter plunged down the hill.
“Air Force Mi 17 V 5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11:48 a.m. yesterday and is expected to land in Wellington at 12:15 p.m. Air traffic control at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter at around 12. :08 pm,” Rajnath Singh said.
He said locals spotted the fire in the woods near Coonoor and rushed to it, where they saw the wreckage of a military helicopter in the flames.
The dead included General Rawat’s wife, Madhulika Rawat, Defense Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and nine other armed forces personnel, including a pilot, he said. Air Force helicopter crew.
This is Full statement of the Secretary of Defense Full statement about Chopper Tamil Nadu Crash:
“With deep sorrow and heavy heart, I would like to convey the unfortunate news of the military helicopter crash at noon on December 8, 2021, to India’s First Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat.
General Bipin Rawat scheduled a visit to the Defense Service Staff College, Wellington to interact with the Officer students. The Air Force Mi 17 V 5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11:48 a.m. yesterday and is expected to land in Wellington at 12:15 p.m. Air Traffic Control at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter around 12:08 pm. Later, some locals spotted a fire in the woods near Coonoor and ran to where they observed the wreckage of a military helicopter engulfed in flames. Rescue teams from the local government in the vicinity have reached the scene and attempted to salvage survivors from the crash site.
All those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to Army Hospital, Wellington. The latest reports have confirmed that of the total 14 people on board the ill-fated helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries. Those killed included CDS spouse Madhulika Rawat, Defense Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh and 9 other Armed Forces personnel, including crew Air Force helicopters. Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Captain Kuldeep Singh, Junior Police Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Police Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja. Captain Varun Singh is on life support in the Army Hospital in Wellington and every effort is being made to save his life.
An investigation into the incident has been led by the Indian Air Force, led by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Training Command.
The Chief of the General Staff of National Defense will be cremated with full military honors.
On behalf of All, I respectfully pay respects to those who have passed away and express my condolences to the bereaved. “
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