Thursday 18 / April / 2024
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force said Wednesday said that 13 people, including India's defence chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, died in a helicopter crash in the south of the country.
"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," the Indian Air Force said on Twitter.
The general holds India's highest military rank — the chief of defence staff. He is the first to hold the position, which the Indian government established in 2019.
Rawat is seen as close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several generations of his family served in the Indian armed forces. He has commanded forces in Indian-administered Kashmir and along the Line of Actual Control bordering China.
Military aircraft accidents in India have left several fatalities in recent years.
In 2019, an aircraft collided with another one during drills in the southern city of Bangalore, killing an Indian military pilot and injuring two others.
At least five members of the Indian Air Force died in 2017 after an M-17 helicopter crashed in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.
In 2015, 10 members of India's Border Security Force were killed when a paramilitary plane crashed in New Delhi.
