India’s top military General Bipin Rawat died along with his wife and 11 others in a helicopter crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, officials have confirmed. Video footage showed the wreckage of the helicopter engulfed in flames and rescue workers rushing to the site to douse the flames. His death was confirmed in a statement by India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
Bipin Rawat was India’s first chief of defense staff, a position the government created in 2019 and was seen close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rawat was reportedly travelling with his wife and 11 others in a Russian-made M-17 helicopter that crashed near its destination in the Tamil Nadu state. The helicopter was already making its descent at the time of the crash and came down around 10 kilometres from the nearest road. An eyewitness of the crash said that he had seen passengers falling from the helicopter from the crash, possibly jumping off mid-air to save their lives. Only one person, a captain, survived. He is being treated at a nearby military hospital.
Modi paid his tributes to the deceased general, calling him a “true patriot” and saying that: “His passing away has saddened me deeply. India will never forget his exceptional service.”