New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh December 9 told Parliament that a Tri-Service enquiry has been ordered to probe the helicopter crash in which the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 others were killed. The crash took took place in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on December 8.
The Enquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command.
He said that of the 14 people on board, 13 people died when the Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in Coonoor. Group Captain Varun Singh, who survived the crash, sustained severe burn injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.
Expressing grief over the sudden demise of CDS General Rawat and 12 others, Singh paid homage to the deceased persons and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
In his statement, the Defence Minister said Gen Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to interact with the student Officers. The Air Force Mi 17V5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11:48 AM yesterday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 PM.
The statement by the Minister said Air Traffic Control at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12:08 PM. Subsequently, a few locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of military helicopter engulfed in flames. Rescue teams from the local administration in the vicinity reached the site and attempted to recover the survivors from the crash site.
All those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to the Military Hospital, 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. 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.
Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in the Military Hospital at Wellington and all efforts are being made to save his life.
The Chief of Defence Staff would be cremated with full military honours.
