An Indian Air Force helicopter with 14 people on board, including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, crashed on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ramachandran said seven bodies had been recovered from the accident site.
However, there was no immediate information on the condition of Gen Rawat, even as the IAF said a court of inquiry has been ordered into the accident, involving a Mi-17V5 chopper that took off from the Sulur IAF Station in nearby Coimbatore. Rawat was on his way to the Defence Staff College in Wellington.
Official sources in Coimbatore said three persons were rescued from under the debris of the helicopter, which crashed in Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area near Coonoor in the hilly Nilgiris district. Coimbatore Police said three injured persons sustained 75 per cent burns.
The helicopter, carrying a few senior officials, was on its way from Sulur in Coimbatore to DSC in Wellington where Rawat, along with Chief of Army Staff M.M. Naravane, was slated to participate in an event later.
TV visuals showed the chopper in flames, apparently under the impact of the crash.
Rescue personnel, along with Army personnel, were seen involved in clearing the area.
Those on board the helicopter were identified as including Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat, Brig L.S. Lidder, Lt Col Harjinder Singh, N.K. Gursewak Singh, N.K. Jitendra Kr, L/Naik Vivek Kumar, L/Naik B Sai Teja and Hav Satpal.
