Copter crash in TN: Bipin Rawat’s wife dies, says report, toll rises to 11

OOTTY: Unconfirmed reports said Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat’s wife Madhulika Rawat has died in the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday. The accident happened this afternoon. An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with 14 including CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with the accident. The latest reports that came in said eleven people have died in the accident.

Bipin Rawat was admitted to a military hospital in Wellington. His condition is reported to be critical. Rescue operations by police, soldiers and locals are in progress in the area. The Air Force has ordered an investigation into the crash. The crash took place in the Nilgiris shortly after the Mi-series chopper took off from the army base in Sulur in Coimbatore. Preliminary assessment is that bad weather caused the accident. A high-level medical team has also rushed to the spot.

The crash was first reported around 12.20 pm. The defence establishment learnt of the incident from villagers of Katteri who informed the district administration.