India armed forces head among 13 dead in helicopter crash-UPDATED-VIDEO

India armed forces head among 13 dead in helicopter crash-UPDATED -VIDEO
# 08 December 2021 17:35 (UTC +04:00)

The head of India's armed forces, General Bipin Rawat, was among 13 people killed on Wednesday when the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed, the air force said, APA reports citing Reuters.

They were en route from an air force base to a hillside military college in the southern state of Tamil Nadu when the Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopter came down near the town of Coonoor.

Local television footage showed rescuers and army personnel carrying bodies up steep slopes from the mangled wreckage. Only one of the 14 people on board survived and was in hospital with injuries.

"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, (his wife) Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died," the Air Force said in a statement.

***12:37

A military helicopter carrying Indian defence chief General Bipin Rawat crashed in southern India on Wednesday, a defence source said, APA reports citing Reuters.

Local media said Rawat, who is India's Chief of Defence Staff, was accompanied by other officials when the chopper crashed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

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