Indian military chopper crashes with CDS Bipin Rawat on board

An IAF chopper with CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife and defence assistants crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur on 8 December 2021ANI

A military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu of India on Wednesday.

CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the Mi-series chopper that crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu. Search and rescue operations have been launched from nearby bases, said sources.

The Indian Air Force has confirmed that Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat was on- board an IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter that met with an accident earlier today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.

General Bipin Rawat
Reuters file photo

The IAF has ordered an inquiry into the accident. “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,” tweeted IAF.

Search and rescue operations are underway, said sources.

More details are awaited.