Highlights

  • Coonoor helicopter crash:13 people dead
  • Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife among the dead
  • Rawat's remains will be brought to Delhi on Thursday

Latest news

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviews J&K security situation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviews J&K security situation

Mysterious 'dinga dinga' illness causing body shaking affects 300 in Uganda

Mysterious 'dinga dinga' illness causing body shaking affects 300 in Uganda

Putin ready to meet Trump 'anytime' to talk Ukraine deal

Putin ready to meet Trump 'anytime' to talk Ukraine deal

India to play Champions Trophy matches at neutral venue: ICC

India to play Champions Trophy matches at neutral venue: ICC

India's electric vehicle market to reach Rs 20 lakh crore by 2030, says Nitin Gadkari

India's electric vehicle market to reach Rs 20 lakh crore by 2030, says Nitin Gadkari

BJP MPs admitted in RML Hospital ICU with head injuries after scuffle with opposition

BJP MPs admitted in RML Hospital ICU with head injuries after scuffle with opposition

Ravichandran Ashwin's fun time with support staff reminisced by BCCI | Watch

Ravichandran Ashwin's fun time with support staff reminisced by BCCI | Watch

Mallya Calls for Justice Over Excess Debt Recovery and Legal Inconsistencies

Mallya Calls for Justice Over Excess Debt Recovery and Legal Inconsistencies

Coonoor helicopter crash: this is what CDS Bipin Rawat told India's armed forces on Tuesday

The mangled and burnt remains of the ill-fated IAF chopper were strewn along the site, even as rescue services personnel were seen carrying bodies in stretchers.

Coonoor helicopter crash: this is what CDS Bipin Rawat told India's armed forces on Tuesday

An Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on board crashed on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, the IAF said, as four people were killed in the mishap that happened reportedly due to low visibility owing to foggy conditions.

However, there was no immediate information on the condition of Gen Rawat, even as the IAF said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident, involving a Mi-17VH chopper that took off from the Sulur IAF Station in nearby Coimbatore.

TV visuals showed the badly damaged chopper in flames, possibly under the impact of the crash. Apparently, a major tragedy was averted as the helicopter fell at some distance away from a human habitation, averting possible mass casualties.

The accident site was a scene of despair with trees being reduced to broken pieces under the impact of the crash, flames from the chopper engulfing the wooden logs resulting in billowing smoke and personnel scurrying to douse the fire, including using buckets and water hose. What seemed to be some charred bodies were also seen lying around.

The mangled and burnt remains of the ill-fated IAF chopper were strewn along the site, even as rescue services personnel were seen carrying bodies in stretchers to be transported through waiting ambulances.

The accident site remained out of bounds for civilians.

ALSO WATCH: When Bipin Rawat survived a crash in Nagaland's Dimapur in 2015

Official sources in New Delhi said all the injured people on board the helicopter had been evacuated from the spot of the accident.

Rawat was on his way to the Defence Staff College in Wellington.

Official sources in Coimbatore said four bodies had been retrieved and three people rescued from under the debris of the helicopter which crashed in Katteri-Nanchappanchathram area near here in the hilly Nilgiris district. There was no concrete information on the number of persons travelling in the helicopter though official sources had earlier said 3-4 senior officials were among its occupants.

The helicopter, carrying a few senior officials, was on its way from Sulur in Coimbatore to DSC in Wellington where Rawat, along with Chief of Army Staff MM Naravane, was slated to participate in an event later, the sources added.

The chopper crashed in the forest area, reportedly due to poor visibility following heavy fog, they added.

Rescue personnel, along with Army men, were seen involved in clearing the area.

Medical teams from nearby Coimbatore, including burns specialists, have also been sent to Coonoor to treat the injured.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin will visit Coonoor and will leave for Coimbatore by air later in the day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up Next

Coonoor helicopter crash: this is what CDS Bipin Rawat told India's armed forces on Tuesday

Coonoor helicopter crash: this is what CDS Bipin Rawat told India's armed forces on Tuesday

BJP MPs admitted in RML Hospital ICU with head injuries after scuffle with opposition

BJP MPs admitted in RML Hospital ICU with head injuries after scuffle with opposition

Parliament Protest Melee: Congress claims Kharge pushed, Rahul manhandled

Parliament Protest Melee: Congress claims Kharge pushed, Rahul manhandled

Mumbai boat tragedy: Ferry ‘Neel Kamal’ was packed beyond capacity, say police

Mumbai boat tragedy: Ferry ‘Neel Kamal’ was packed beyond capacity, say police

Indian Educationist Arun Kapur honoured with Bhutan’s prestigious royal honour ‘Dasho’

Indian Educationist Arun Kapur honoured with Bhutan’s prestigious royal honour ‘Dasho’

Uttar Pradesh: Six killed in Shahjahanpur road accident

Uttar Pradesh: Six killed in Shahjahanpur road accident

ADVERTISEMENT

editorji-whatsApp

More videos

Arvind Kejriwal urges NDA allies to reconsider support for BJP over Amit Shah’s Ambedkar remark

Arvind Kejriwal urges NDA allies to reconsider support for BJP over Amit Shah’s Ambedkar remark

Andhra High Court upholds lesbian couple’s right to live together, parents told not to ‘interfere’

Andhra High Court upholds lesbian couple’s right to live together, parents told not to ‘interfere’

FIR against Samajwadi Party’s Sambhal MP for power theft

FIR against Samajwadi Party’s Sambhal MP for power theft

Mumbai boat tragedy: Life jackets made mandatory for rides from Gateway of India

Mumbai boat tragedy: Life jackets made mandatory for rides from Gateway of India

Eknath Shinde pays tribute to RSS founder, highlights Sangh's nation-building role

Eknath Shinde pays tribute to RSS founder, highlights Sangh's nation-building role

Delhi to Promote Linguistic Diversity with Multilingual Road Signages and Bureaucratic Nameplates

Delhi to Promote Linguistic Diversity with Multilingual Road Signages and Bureaucratic Nameplates

NDA and INDIA bloc MPs clash in Parliament; BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of pushing its MP

NDA and INDIA bloc MPs clash in Parliament; BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of pushing its MP

Punjab govt releases Rs 28 crore for pregnant women, lactating mothers under Matru Vandana Yojana

Punjab govt releases Rs 28 crore for pregnant women, lactating mothers under Matru Vandana Yojana

Punjab: Over 200 accident victims receive treatment under Farishtey scheme

Punjab: Over 200 accident victims receive treatment under Farishtey scheme

NDA, INDIA bloc MPs hold protest marches in parliament premises over Ambedkar issue

NDA, INDIA bloc MPs hold protest marches in parliament premises over Ambedkar issue

Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.