In a heartbreaking news, India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, passed away on Wednesday (December 8) after meeting with a helicopter crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
General Rawat was India's first chief of defence staff, a position that the government established in 2019. A former Army Chief, Bipin Rawat was also appointed the head of the newly-created Department of Military Affairs.
The 63-year-old was travelling with his wife and other senior officers in the Russian-made Mi-17 chopper, which crashed near its destination in Tamil Nadu.
"Gen Bipin Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the staff course today," the Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted.
"Around noon, an IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter with a crew of four members carrying the CDS and nine other passengers met with a tragic accident near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu," the statement said.
The IAF said that it had been ascertained that General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have lost their lives in the accident.
“Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, Wellington,” IAF further tweeted.
As soon as the horrific news came out, Indian cricket fraternity expressed their grief on social media. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli among others took to Twitter to pay heartfelt tribute to General Bipin Rawat and other departed souls.
Here are the reactions:
