PM Narendra Modi condoles death of CDS Bipin Rawat in helicopter crash

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday offered his condolences after the confirmation on the reports of death of CDS Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika in an IAF chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu today morning.

PM Modi wrote: "Gen Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier. A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me deeply. Om Shanti."

Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday evening confirmed the demise of CDS Bipin Rawat in the tragic accident. "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.

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.

List of people on board the chopper

14 people were on-board the military chopper that crashed b/w Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu. They included CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, Brigadier L.S. Lidder, Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Naik Vivek Kumar, Naik B. Sai Teja, Havaldar Satpal and pilots.

13 out of 14 have been reported dead in the accident.