IAF Helicopter Carrying CDS Bipin Rawat on board crashed: Updates awaited

NATION: Mi-17V5 helicopter supposedly carrying Chief of Defence Staff Gen.Bipin Rawat reported to have met with a tragic accident in the State of Tamil Nadu, However the exact report on the CDS being safe is awaited and speculated as of now, But the reports of the crash has been identified by the Indian Air Force team.

In-Depth

CDS Bipin Rawat was en route to Wellington in Coonoor from the Indian Air Force base in Sulur near Coimbatore, as per sources. He left Delhi for Sulur earlier on Wednesday.

Reports said there were 14 people on board, However, the list of passengers according to the sources have been reported to be:

1.Gen Bipin Rawat, PVSM,UYSM,AVSM,YSM,SM,VSM,ADC,

2. Mrs. Madhuluka Rawat (President DWWA),

3. Brig.LS Lidder, SM, VSM,

4. Lt.Col.Harjinder Singh,

5. NK Gursewak Singh,

6. NK Jitendra Kumar,

7.L/NK Vivek Kumar,

8.L/NK B.Sai Teja,

9. Hav Satpal

source: Twitter/IAF

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is due to address the parliament shortly where he is expected to provide more details.

ANI claimed that Gen Rawat and his family were in the Chopper.

Meanwhile, IAF has ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident

From the latest update, it has been informed that the chopper crashed in a forest area, reportedly due to poor visibility following heavy fog: Official sources (PTI).

As per TOI, 14 bodies have been recovered so far. 

As per the health officials present at the spot, three people were rescued from the crashed chopper. The chopper crashed in a gorge near a small habitat in a tea estate near Kattery, around 7km from Coonoor. According to eyewitnesses, more bodies have been found trapped under the debris of the chopper. __TIMES OF INDIA

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reached the residence of  CDS Bipin Rawat as per NDTV