External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday expressed shock over the tragic demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife and said it was a huge loss to the nation.
"Deeply shocked at tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat and his wife. We worked closely together in the last few years. It is a huge loss to the nation," Jaishankar tweeted.
General Bipin Rawat, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) died after a military helicopter crashed in Coonnor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," IAF said in a tweet. Gen Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course when his chopper crashed near Coonor in Tamil Nadu. "Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course today," the IAF added.
Gen Rawat had taken off from Sulur Airbase for Wellington and was accompanied by his wife Madhulika Rawat, his DA Brigadier LS Lidder, SO Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, among other defence officials.
"Around noon today, an IAF Mi 17 V5 helicopter with a crew of 4 members carrying the CDS and 9 other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor, TN," the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.
General Rawat was India's first Chief of Defence Staff. With his appointment in the topmost position in December 2019, he was the one-point advisor to the government matters related to the military including the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
"Deeply anguished by the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other Armed Forces personnel in an extremely unfortunate helicopter accident today in Tamil Nadu. His untimely death is an irreparable loss to our Armed Forces and the country," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.
"General Rawat had served the country with exceptional courage and diligence. As the first Chief of Defence Staff he had prepared plans for jointness of our Armed Forces," Singh added.
A veteran of counter-insurgency warfare, CDS Rawat served in difficult terrains including northern and eastern commands.
CDS Rawat was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978. He served as Chief of the Army Staff before his elevation as Chief of Defence Staff.
( With inputs from ANI )
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