Tri-Services inquiry ordered in CDS chopper crash: Rajnath in Parliament

New Delhi: A Tri-Services inquiry has been ordered in the chopper crash which killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed both Houses of Parliament separately on Thursday, adding that the last rites would be performed with full military honours.

Making identical statement on the incident in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Singh said, "With profound grief and heavy heart, I stand to convey the unfortunate news of the crash of the military helicopter in the noon of 8th December 2021, with India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat onboard.

"Gen Bipin Rawat was on a scheduled visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to interact with the student Officers," Singh said.

"A Tri-Services inquiry regarding the incident has been ordered by the Indian Air Force, headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command," the Defence Minister said.

"The Chief of Defence Staff would be cremated with full military honours".

Giving details of the incident, the Defence Minister said the Mi17 V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force took off from Sulur Air Base at 11.48am on Wednesday and was expected to land at Wellington by 12.15 pm.

"Air Traffic Control at Sulur Air Base lost contact with the helicopter at approximately 12.08 pm.

"Subsequently, few locals spotted a fire in the forest near Coonoor and rushed to the spot where they observed the wreckage of military helicopter engulfed in flames. Rescue teams from the local administration in the vicinity reached the site and attempted to recover the survivors from the crash site," he said.

"All those recovered from the wreckage were rushed to the Military Hospital, Wellington.

"Latest reports have confirmed that out of the total 14 persons onboard the ill-fated helicopter, 13 have succumbed to their injuries, the Minister said.

"The dead include the spouse of the CDS, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, his Defence Adviser Brig Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, Staff Officer Lt Col Harjinder Singh and nine other Armed Forces personnel, including the Air Force helicopter crew.

"Their names are Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja."

The Defence Minister also said the lone survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in the Military Hospital at Wellington and all efforts are being made to save his life.

"I, on behalf of the august House, pay homage to the deceased persons and express condolences to the bereaved families," he said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also paid tributes to the late General Rawat, and said he will always be remembered for his dedication and commitment towards the nation and the soldiers.

He also wished for the speedy recovery of the Group Captain, who was the pilot of the chopper and is in a critical condition.

MPs in both Houses also observed two minutes silence to pay tributes to the victims of the crash. (UNI)