Indian CDS Gen Bipin Rawat among 13 dead as IAF chopper crashes Tamil Nadu

Indian CDS Gen Bipin Rawat among 13 dead as IAF chopper crashes Tamil Nadu

New Delhi (Web Desk): India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the air force said. 

According to Indian media, a military helicopter carrying Indian officials including General Bipin Rawat crashed in Tamil Nadu. However, the reason for the crash was not immediately known.

 In a post on Twitter, the Indian Air Force (IAF), also confirmed the news of the crash.

“An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.”

Indian news agency also ANI tweeted about the crash, saying that there were 14 people on board, including General Rawat, his wife, defence assistant, security commandos and an IAF pilot.

Bipin Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in late 2019. The position was set-up with the aim of integrating India's three services, the army, the navy and the air force.