Delhi, December 8: The Indian Air Force has confirmed that Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other defence officials have died in the chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
“With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that General Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident,” the Indian Force said in a tweet.
The helicopter took off from the Air Force station in Sulur, Coimbatore and was headed to Wellington Defence Services Staff college where the country’s top military official was due to deliver a lecture.
The crash took place in the Nilgiris, shortly after the Mi-series chopper took off from the army base in Sulur.