Last Updated on December 8, 2021 at 5:54 pm
An army chopper with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat has crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning.
Reports are emerging that 13 out of total 14 on board the MI chopper have died during the crash. Locals were seen gathered near the crash site and pouring water on the burning debris.
Earlier reports suggested that 3 persons who were injured during the crash were taken to the nearby hospital but their identities were not confirmed.
It was reported that there were 14 people on board the helicopter including the wife of Bipin Rawat when the chopper crashed. DNA testing will be done to confirm the identities of deceased.
Indian Air force stated, “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident”.
Bipin Rawat was appointed as the CDS staff on January 1, 2020 before which he was the army chief for three years.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
