A chopper carrying CDS Bipin Rawat crashes in Tamil Nadu, killing 13 persons. IAF Helicopter Crash Live Updates:

Latest information :17:35 (IST) Dec 08

On Wednesday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carrying the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others crashed in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. The CDS was on his way to Wellington’s Defence Staff College. Official sources say 14 persons were on board the Mi-17V5 helicopter, including Rawat’s wife. According to sources, 13 of the 14 passengers have been confirmed dead. According to Times of india 

An Army helicopter carrying senior defence officials, including Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, crashed in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, killing four people on the spot. According to sources, the chopper was on its way from Sulur Airbase to Wellington when it crashed. There were around 14 persons on board. According to an official, three officials have been rescued so far, while others are still being searched. The injured have been taken to the Wellington cantonment in Nilgiris.

According Indian news agency ANI, the Mi-series chopper was transporting Bipin Rawat, his colleagues, and some family members. According to sources, as soon as the chopper crashed, a search and rescue operation was launched from nearby facilities. Locals also jumped into the rescue operation, and early photographs of the downed chopper helped local rescuers.

According to Times of india 

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.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 8, 2021

In a statement, the Indian Air Force verified the event and the presence of CDS Rawat on board. “In Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, today, an IAF Mi-17V5 chopper carrying CDS Gen Bipin Rawat was involved in a mishap.” “An Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the mishap,” the IAF said.

#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.

(Video Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/YkBVlzsk1J

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

The passengers in the chopper that flew from Delhi to Sulur included Bipin Rawat, Madhulika Rawat, Brig LS Lidder, Lt Col Harjinder Singh, NK Gurusewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kumar, L/NK Vivek Kumar, L/NK B sai Teja, and Hav Satpal. The passenger list for the Sulur-Wellington flight has yet to be disclosed. click

#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper. pic.twitter.com/6oxG7xD8iW

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

The bodies have yet to be identified, according to officials, while the rescue mission continues. According to ANI, two officials were taken to a local hospital with 80 percent burns.