At least 13 people, including the country's Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika, were killed when an Indian Air Force helicopter crashed in Kanor, Tamil Nadu. An official announcement from the Indian Air Force confirmed the news of his death.
The Army MI-17 helicopter crashed on Wednesday (December 8) morning local time. The helicopter was also carrying senior Indian military officials. News agency ANI.
ANI sources said the bodies were not identified in the accident. The identities of the bodies can be confirmed through DNA testing.
Earlier, the Indian Air Force said in a tweet that a MI-17 V5 helicopter carrying Bipin Rawat had crashed in the Kanor area of Tamil Nadu. .An inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident.
According to ANI, Bipin Rawat was accompanied by his staff and family members in the MI-Series helicopter. .A search and rescue operation was launched from a nearby base as soon as the helicopter crashed.