Helicopter carrying Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff, crashed in Coonoor
A twin-engine Army helicopter has crashed in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat was on board the chopper.
Three persons have been rescued so far. The three (identities not confirmed yet) are seriously injured and have been sent to Wellington Cantt Hospital.
Poor weather is believed to have led to the accident. Rawat was attending a lecture in Ooty. His wife was with him, according to sources.
According to sources, CDS Bipin Rawat’s staff and family members were on board the Mi-series chopper along with him when it crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu, ANI news agency reported. CDS Bipin Rawat was en route to Wellington in Coonoor from the Indian Air Force base in Sulur near Coimbatore, as per sources.
Visuals from the site of the Indian Air Force helicopter crash showed massive flames and locals helping with the immediate rescue operations. Several teams are at the site carrying out search and rescue operations.
