The Indian Air Force tweeted on Wednesday evening: “With deepest regret, it is now learned that General Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 others on board have died in the unfortunate accident.”
With deep regret it is now learned that General Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on BoA… https://t.co/seb6UyJB0J
– Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) 1638966809000
IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter departs Sulur Air Force station at around 11.50, and the accident occurred within the next 30 minutes. The helicopter crashed into a ditch in the forest near a small tribal settlement near Katri, about seven km from Coonoor and ten km from the Defense Services Staff College. wellington,
IAF Helicopter Crash Live Updates
Burnt bodies were recovered from the accident site. There were also some army personnel who were saved with serious burns and were taken to the army hospital in Wellington.
Initial reports said that the weather in Coonoor was bad which may have led to the accident. Fire Service, Defense and Police personnel were pressed into the rescue operations.
The rescue team had to struggle a lot to reach the accident site and the terrain was uneven and there were dense vegetation. There was no proper route to reach the accident site beyond a point. The tribals suggested a jungle route to reach a tribal temple which was close to the accident site from where the army personnel had to make their way.
The tribals of the area told the police that they were used to Army choppers at DSSC and hence did not pay much attention when the helicopters flew on the spot. But it was only after the noise and smoke that they came to know that the helicopter had crashed.
An eyewitness told that the sky was completely covered with mist and nothing was visible. An elder from the tribal settlement said that behind the mist they could see the helicopter crashing in flames.
Within minutes, ambulances and army vehicles reached the spot. Six ambulances were also called from Coimbatore and Nilgiris and the injured were rescued. He was sent to Wellington Army Hospital. Experts of private hospitals have also been asked to be on alert.
Prakash, a resident of Burliyar village near the accident site, said, ‘The helicopter was flying just 200 meters above my house. It was very foggy in the morning. We do not know whether the chopper crashed due to a technical snag or hit a tree and caught fire due to bad weather. I helped firefighters put out the fire. Except one, all the other bodies were taken out in a dead state. The one who was alive was immediately taken to the hospital.
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