The position of General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who were also on the ship, was not known. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
The helicopter taking off from the Sulur airport, where they had stayed for a while, was en route to the Defense Services Staff College in Wellington, Tamil Nadu.
Update,
5.19 pm
13 personnel confirmed dead
The death of 13 out of 14 personnel involved in the military helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu has been confirmed. Identity of dead bodies will be confirmed by DNA test: Sources
– ani
5.10 pm
General Rawat was about to deliver the speech
An IAF Embraer aircraft accompanied by General Rawat took off from Palam airport at 0847 am and landed at Sulur airport at 1134 am, from there they took off for Wellington at around 1148 am in a Mi-17V5 helicopter and reported the disappearance of the helicopter. Report came at 1222 pm
The helicopter crashed about 10 km from the destination. He was about to deliver a speech at the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington.
– Dinkar Perry
5.00 pm
The army has captured the crash site.
– Soundarya Preetha
4.45 pm
Hospital team leaves for Wellington
A six-member team from Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) left for Wellington on Wednesday afternoon to assist the medical team at the Army Hospital there that is treating those rescued from the IAF chopper crash site .
CMCH Dean A. Nirmala said that a team of surgeons and doctors left for the Nilgiris with a police escort.
Ten beds each have been kept on standby at CMCH and Government Medical College and ESI Hospital, Coimbatore.
– Wilson Thomas
4.10 pm
Rajnath likely to speak in Parliament tomorrow
Army Chief General MM Naravane is currently briefing Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in South Block. Mr. Singh is likely to make a statement in Parliament tomorrow.
3.55 pm
Stalin to leave for Coonoor
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin tweeted, “Deeply shocked and disappointed to hear about the accident near Coonoor of an Army chopper along with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others.
“I have directed the local administration to provide all necessary assistance in the rescue operations while I am reaching the spot.”
Mr Stalin will take off on a chartered flight at 4.45 pm
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai“I am deeply saddened to hear about the crash of the Army helicopter carrying Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat. I am trying to get more information,” Bommai told reporters in Bengaluru. “This is the most unfortunate incident. The country is in a state of shock,” he said. ,PTI,
3.30 pm
4 people rescued
Nilgiris Superintendent of Police Ashish Rawat confirmed that four people on board the Mi-17 V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force have been rescued so far. However, he was severely injured.
Nilgiri Superintendent of Police Ashish Rawat while confirming the rescue operation said Hindu The four rescued people have been admitted to the government hospital in Ooty.
– Rohan Premkumar
3.30 pm
eyewitness accounts
Witnesses present near the accident site said that they came out after hearing a loud noise in the afternoon. P Krishnasamy, a resident of Najappan Sathiram in Katteri, Coonoor, said he was at home when he heard the loud sound of the helicopter’s blades.
“I ran outside and saw that the helicopter was making a steep climb from the valley below, before it hit a tree and crashed,” he said.
Mr Krishnasamy said he saw people coming out of the burning chopper, shouting for help. “Since the fire was huge, we could not contact [the site],” They said.
Another resident, P. Chandrakumar, said helicopters headed to the Defense Services Staff College in Wellington usually fly over the settlement, but that it was cloudy when the accident occurred.
– Coimbatore Bureau
3.15 pm
Rajnath informs PM Modi about the accident
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is monitoring the situation and a meeting of senior officials of the Defense Ministry is on. He has informed PM Narendra Modi about the accident. According to official sources, he is not visiting the spot.
A defense source said Singh has asked the IAF chief to visit the spot.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin will visit Coonoor on Wednesday evening in view of the helicopter crash. Mr Stalin will take off on a chartered flight at 4.45 pm
1.50 pm
Indian Air Force tweet
“An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, accompanied by CDS General Bipin Rawat, met with an accident near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu today. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Debris in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu where a helicopter carrying General Bipin Rawat and others crashed
It is learned that the helicopter taking off from Sulur airport, where they had stayed for some time, was en route to the Defense Services Staff College in Wellington, carrying 14 people including some of their employees.
The helicopter caught fire as soon as it hit the ground and search and rescue efforts were immediately launched.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Hope for the safety of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and others on board the chopper. Praying for a speedy recovery.”
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