The Coonoor area of Tamil Nadu recently faced a massive crash of an Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and other three to four high officials on board.
According to reports, there were fourteen people on board and four dead bodies have already been discovered. Three persons have been resued but they are also serious injured and taken to the nearby local hospital.
The chopper took off from the Sulur IAF Base and was on its way to the Defense Services College at Wellington when it crashed. The cause of the accident is not known yet.
CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, defence assistant, the military attache at CDS Brig Linder, security commandos and an IAF pilot were on board the Mi-17V5 helicopter when the accident occured between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu.
The visuals from the site showed high flames amid heavy mist with the locals helping with the necessary rescue operations. The local military officers reached the location as soon as possible to carry out proper rescue operations.
The Indian Air Force has confirmed that the inquiry is going on to figure out the reasons for the mishap. IAF tweeted, “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Govind are informed about the incidents. Several other details are still awaited.
