Breaking News: General Bipin Rawat, Passed away in a IAF Chopper Crash

Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, died in a IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor on Wednesday.

The Indian Air Force had confirmed a little before 2 pm that an Mi-17 V5 helicopter with General Rawat on board had "met with an accident near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.

General Bipin Rawat News, India's first Chief of Defence Staff, died today after a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu, killing 13 on board. One man is being treated for severe burns. General Rawat's wife, traveling with him, was also killed.

"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 Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted.

The IAF had confirmed a little before 2 pm that an Mi-17 V5 helicopter with General Rawat on board had "met with an accident near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu".

The Air Force also said it had ordered an Inquiry into what happened.

The helicopter crashed shortly after it took off from the Air Force base in Sulur at 11.45 am, Coimbatore, for Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. 

Who is Bipin Rawat?

Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat, was born in Pauri, Uttarakhand in a Hindu Garhwali family. The family had been serving in the Indian Army for multiple generations. Rawat PVSM UYSM AVSM YSM SM VSM ADC was a four star general of the Indian Army. He was the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). On 30 December 2019, he was appointed as the first CDS of India and assumed office from 1 January 2020. Prior to taking over as the CDS, he served as 57th and last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as well as 26th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.