India: Chief Of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat, Wife, Others Die In Military Plane Crash

The authorities in India have confirmed the death of the nation’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat in a military plane crash on Wednesday.

The military chief died along with his wife, Smt. Madhulika Rawat, senior officials of the armed forces and others in the ill-fated military plane crash which occurred in Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, Naija News had reported that 14 people were onboard the Mi-series helicopter when it crashed.

However, in an update by the Indian Air Force, it has now been confirmed that the country’s Defence Chief and many others on board didn’t survive the crash as he, his wife and 11 others died in the unfortunate incident.

A male survivor whose identity is yet to be established survived the crash but with severe burns.

“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 after it had earlier confirmed the crash itself.

Also, a tweet from the official Twitter handle of the office of the country’s Vice President reads: “Deeply shocked by the tragic death of Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his spouse Smt. Madhulika Rawat, senior officials of the armed forces & others in a helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.”

Before his appointment as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff on January 1, 2019, Rawat had been the country’s Chief of Army Staff for three years.

A military reform which birthed the Department of Military Affairs in India made him the nation’s first Chief of Defence Staff.