CDS General Bipin Rawat, Wife Madhulika Among 13 Killed In Military Helicopter Crash In Tamil Nadu, Confirms IAF

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced that Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat were among the 13 people killed in the military helicopte crash in Tamil Nadu today (8 December).

"Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today," the IAF said in a statement.

Around noon today, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of four members carrying the CDS and nine other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the IAF statement added.

"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," the IAF said.

The statement further added that Group Captain Varun Singh was injured in the accident and is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington in Tamil Nadu.