The funeral of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was held at Delhi's Brar Square Crematorium with full military honours, on Friday evening.
General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other defence personnel were killed when a Mi17V5 helicopter carrying them crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
The last rites of General Rawat and Madhulika were performed by their daughters Kritika and Tarini. The CDS was accorded the 17-gun salute in line with protocols. The cremation ceremony was attended by 800 service personnel.
The final journey of Chief of Defence Staff General Rawat and his wife began from his official residence in New Delhi amid chants of 'Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Rawat ji ka naam rahega'.
Huge crowds of mourners were gathered outside, chanting 'Bharat Mata ki jai' and waving the tricolour, as armed forces personnel carried the mortal remains of General Rawat and his wife inside the crematorium. People showered flower petals as the gun carriage carrying the mortal remains entered the crematorium.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain and British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis were also in attendance for the last rites.
Earlier in the day, the mortal remains of General Rawat and his wife were kept at their 3, Kamraj Marg official residence, to allow people to pay their respects. Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and a host of other dignitaries laid wreaths on the mortal remains of General Rawat and his wife.
