LIVE IAF helicopter crash updates: PM Modi pays last respects to CDS General Bipin Rawat

Mortal remains of Gen Rawat and his wife will be kept at their residence for the general public to pay their final respects from 11 am to 12:30pm IST Friday (December 10).

Military personnel will pay their respects to the defence chief and his wife between 12:30pm IST and 1:30pm IST. 

Read: PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to CDS Gen Bipin Rawat

The three service chiefs - Army chief Gen MM Naravane, Navy chief admiral R Hari Kumar and IAF chief marshal VR Chaudhari pay last respects to CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat including 11 armed forces personnel who lost their lives in the military chopper crash on Wednesday.

Daughter of India's Chief of Defence(CDS) Staff General Bipin Rawat pays her respects in front of his coffin during a tribute ceremony at Palam Air Force station in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays last respects to CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat at Palam airbase in New Delhi.

India's defence minister Rajnath Singh also paid homage to General Bipin Rawat and his wife at Palam airbase on Thursday.

India's defence minister met families of General Rawat and other Armed forces personnel who lost their lives after the chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Families of defence personnel pay tribute to CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat at New Delhi.

The IAF plane also brought the mortal remains of wife of CDS Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat, as officials paid their last respects.

Earlier the cockpit voice recorder of the crashed plane was recovered.

IAF plane carrying mortal remains of CDS General Bipin Rawat arrives at Palam airbase in New Delhi
 

In a mark of respect, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan will be sending top Army officials at the Cremation of CDS Bipin Rawat and  his wife that will take place on Friday

The cremation is expected to take place at Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment. Sri Lanka will be represented by chief of defence staff and commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Gen Shavendra Silva. He will be accompanied by Ex-CDS Adm Ravi Wijegunaratne, (retd) who was the coursemate of CDS from National Defence College, India.

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Mortal remains of General Bipin Rawat to arrive in Delhi on Friday evening.

Lone survivor Group Captain Varun Singh being shifted to Bengaluru, says his father

IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the helicopter crash, is being shifted to Bengaluru from the Army hospital at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, his father said on Thursday.

Talking to PTI over the phone, Group Captain Varun Singh's father Colonel K P Singh (retired), who is a resident of Bhopal, said, "He is being shifted to Bengaluru. I have reached Wellington."

Asked about his son's condition, he said, "I can't say anything about that...I am not sure."

Enquiry ordered

A tri-service enquiry regarding the incident has been ordered by Indian Air Force, Rajnath Singh says. The enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command, Rajnath Singh says in the Parliament.

Group Captain Varun Singh, sole survivor of chopper crash, is on life support, Rajnath Singh confirms.

"Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. All efforts are being made to save his life," he said.

(Image courtesy: Twitter)

Indian defence minister issues statement in Parliament on the helicopter crash that took lives of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and colleagues.

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Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder of the Mi-17V5 chopper that crashed yesterday with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat has been recovered from the site, ANI reports claim

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, along with Tamil Nadu DGP C Sylendra Babu, visited the chopper crash site near Coonoor in Nilgiris district

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement on the military helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in both the Houses of Parliament tomorrow. 

US Embassy extends condolences to Bipin Rawat's family

Here is the full statement released by US Embassy

'The US Embassy extends its deepest condolences to the Rawat family and the families of those who perished in the tragic helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.

As India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, General Rawat spearheaded a historic period of transformation in the Indian military. He was a strong friend and partner of the United States, overseeing a major expansion of India’s defense cooperation with the U.S. military. In September, he spent five days traveling throughout the United States as part of a counterpart visit with General Mark Milley to discuss military developments and opportunities to enhance our cooperation with like-minded countries. His legacy will continue on.

Our thoughts are with the Indian people and the Indian military, and we pray for Group Captain Varun Singh’s full recovery.'
 

'Deeply anguished': PM Modi leads condolences after India's CDS Gen Bipin Rawat dies in chopper crash

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid heartfelt condolences and said Gen Bipin Rawat's untimely death is an "irreparable loss" to our Armed Forces and the country...Read more

Indian Army issues statement on tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat

Here's the full statement

'General MM Naravane and all ranks of the Indian Army express their deepest grief and sorrow over the untimely demise of General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, President DWWA and 11 other military personnel in an unfortunate air accident today on 08 Dec.

General Bipin Rawat, India's first CDS, was a visionary who initiated far reaching reforms in the Indian military's higher defence organisation. He was instrumental in creating the foundation of India's joint theatre commands and giving impetus to the increased indigenisation of military equipment, a legacy which will be carried on and strengthened by successive generations.

Mrs Madhulika Rawat, also the former President AWWA was an epitome of grace whose presence will be missed by everyone. 

The deceased 11 military personnel accompanying the CDS and President DWWA on the way to Wellington will also be equally missed by everyone. They performed their duties as per the best traditions of the Armed Forces.'
 

Mortal remains to be brought to Delhi by tomorrow: Report

Mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat along with his wife and others are expected to be brought to New Delhi by tomorrow evening, says news agency ANI

Gen Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff: A life dedicated to the nation

The first CDS was a veteran of counterinsurgency warfare and served in some of the most difficult terrains of India, including the northern and eastern commands...Read More

CDS Bipin Rawat passes away in chopper crash, 12 others dead

"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," tweeted Indian Air Force

13 out of 14 people onboard have died: Report

Indian news agency PTI quoted a local official as saying that 13 people have died and one man survived the crash of a military chopper carrying India's Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat.
 

Bipin Rawat chopper crash: Cabinet Committee on Security to go in a huddle

Cabinet Committee on Security will meet at 6:30 pm today

Australian high commissioner expresses sadness over chopper crash

"Deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the helicopter accident involving Flag of India CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, staff and Air Force crew," tweeted Australia's High Commissioner to india Barry O’Farrell

Indian Air Force helicopter carrying CDS Gen Bipin Rawat crashes: Here's what we know so far

Indian Air Force stated that an inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident and ascertain the cause of the accident... Read more

13 out of 14 onboard crashed chopper confirmed dead: ANI

13 out of 14 people onboard the crashed chopper have been confirmed dead, reported news agency ANI.

DNA analysis will be conducted to ascertain identity.

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane briefs Defence MInister

Indian Army chief General MM Naravane has briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about crash of the chopper that was carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat 

Govt to issue a statement on the copter crash in Parliament tomorrow

Government likely to issue a statement tomorrow in Parliament on the crash of the military chopper with Chief of Defence Staff on board: Sources

Defence Minister briefs Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has left residence of CDS Bipin Rawat. He has briefed Prime MInister Narendra Modi.

Security around Rawat's residence in New Delhi has been raised

Timeline of the mishap

11.47 am: Helicopter takes off from Sulur base.

12.20 pm: Accident takes place

2.30 pm: Fire doused after half an hour struggle with flames
 

Defence MInister Rajnath Singh has reached Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat's residence in New Delhi

Latest visuals from the crash site

Images from the crash site of an Indian Air Force helicopter showed enormous flames and villagers assisting with the first rescue efforts.

Three individuals were rescued from the downed chopper, according to health personnel on the scene.

The chopper crashed in a small habitat on a tea estate at Kattery, some 7 kilometres from Coonoor, in a gorge. 

14 people were on board the Indian Air Force chopper

The IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter was airborne from Sulur for Wellington. There were 14 persons on board that crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu. 

They included CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat

Brig LS Lidder

Lt Col Harjinder Singh

NK Gursewak Singh

NK Jitendra Kr

L/Naik Vivek Kumar

L/Naik B Sai Teja

Hav Satpa

According to sources, Rawat’s staff and some family members were also on board in a Mi-series helicopter.

On January 1, 2020, Rawat was named as the country's first Chief of Defense Staff.

In one of the most important reorganisations in the Defence Ministry in decades, he was appointed head of the newly created Department of Military Affairs.

Before becoming the CDS, he had served as the Army's Chief of Staff for three years.