Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec.9: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today, while addressing the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, briefed the speakers of both houses over the Indian Air Force’s M-17 helicopter crash that took place on Wednesday, December 8 in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
The defence minister informed that all the 13 bodies of the deceased in the crash including CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other soldiers will be brought to Delhi by evening. The last rites of CDS General Bipin Rawat will be performed with full military honours. The last rites of other military personnel will be performed with appropriate military honour.
He also expressed his grief and condolences for the bereaved families of the deceased. He also said that Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhary was sent to the crash site for yesterday.
“Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash. The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh. The inquiry team reached Wellington yesterday itself and started the investigation,” he added
Both the houses also observed 2 minute silence for paying tribute to the people who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
According to ANI inputs, Group Captain Varun Singh’s health condition is critical but stable. He is under watch and if required, he can be shifted from the Military Hospital, Wellington to the Command Hospital, Bangalore.
The Indian Air Force confirmed General Rawat’s death late Wednesday. The others were on board an Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 chopper that took off from the Sulur IAF facility near Coimbatore. General Rawat was on his way to Wellington’s Defence Staff College for an occasion. The helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11:48 AM yesterday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 PM. Air Traffic Control at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12:08 PM. Subsequently, a few locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of military helicopter engulfed in flames.
