General Bipin Rawat, wife Madhulika cremated; daughters perform last rites

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who was killed with 12 others in an  Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu two days ago, was cremated with full military honours. The last rites of General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat were performed by daughters Kritika and Tarini at the Brar Square crematorium in the Delhi Cantonment on Friday. General Rawat, his wife, Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other defence personnel were killed when a Mi17V5 helicopter carrying them to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington for a programme crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

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The final journey of General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat began from his official residence in New Delhi amid chants of ‘Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Rawat ji ka naam rahega’. 

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Earlier in the day, the mortal remains of General Rawat and his wife were kept at their Kamraj Marg official residence before cremation, to allow people to pay their respects.

Several dignitaries also payed floral tributes and last respects till the funeral procession left.

General Rawat’s two daughters performed traditional rituals before the caskets of their parents were moved to the gun carriage.

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Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, were among those who laid wreaths on the mortal remains of General Rawat and his wife.

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Along with about 800 service personnel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain and British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis were also in attendance for the military funeral of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.

Brigadier L S Lidder, another victim of the crash, was also cremated with full military honours at the Brar Square crematorium.  Group Captain Varun Singh, the only survivor of the crash, is said to be in critical condition.