Helicopter carrying General Bipin Rawat crashes in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the Indian Air Force tweets.
An Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on board crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday. Five people have been confirmed dead in the incident. There is no immediate information on the condition of General Rawat.
Two people with severe burn injuries have been rescued so far while a search is on for the others. There were fourteen people on board, according to sources.
The two injured have been taken to the hospital at Wellington cantonment in Nilgiris district.
Rawat is the most senior official in the Indian military and an adviser to the defence ministry. He assumed the newly created post last year after retiring as army chief.
The Press Trust of India news agency said the Mi-17V5 helicopter was on its way from an air force base to the army defence services college when it crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
More details awaited.
