Crash Involving CDS Rawat: 11 Believed To Be Dead; Defence Minister To Update Parliament

Coimbatore: India braced for the worst as news came through that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will speak in Parliament to give an update on the horrific helicopter crash involving Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat on Wednesday afternoon.

Maj. Rawat, India’s first CDS, was travelling from Sulur Airbase to Wellington with his wife Madhulika Patkar and senior IAF officers when the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed near the Nilgiris, near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

India Today reported that 11 people on board have died, while three people have received 85 per cent burn injuries.

It was also reported that the Defence Minister has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will travel to the crash site after updating Parliament.