Guwahati News Desk: In a tragic IAF aircraft crash that occurred on Wednesday, India lost the great Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat.
Taking to Twitter the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that Wednesday’s crash took place near Coonoor in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu.
The army chief was on his way to the Defence Staff College in Wellington.
In addition, the officials were travelling in an Mi-17VH chopper that took off from the Sulur IAF Station in nearby Coimbatore.
Expressing his grief over the death of CDS Bipin Rawat’s demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus.”
President Ramnath Kovind in his condolence message said “The nation has lost one of its bravest sons”.
The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed anguish over the demise of CDS Bipin Rawat and others in the crash.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed CDS Bipin Rawat’s death as “unprecedented tragedy”.
However, sources have also asserted about the presence of General Bipin Rawat’s wife Madhulika Rawat in the helicopter crash.
Furthermore, officials have also confirmed the death of 13 out of 14 passengers so far.
Meanwhile, the IAF said that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident.