Watch: PM Modi pays tributes to General Rawat, others killed in IAF chopper crash

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday paid tributes to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and 12 others who were killed in an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu the previous day. The mortal remains of the deceased were brought to Palam air base in New Delhi for ‘Shradhanjali’ or tribute ceremony. Besides Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and the Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force, Navy and Army also paid homage to the deceased.

The IAF’s Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu as General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 10 defence personnel were on their way to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington for a programme. 

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An Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft carrying the bodies from the Sulur airbase touched down at the Palam technical airport around 7:35 pm.

Only the bodies of General Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and Brigadier LS Lidder have been identified so far, and will be released to the families for last rites. The other bodies will be kept at the mortuary at the Army Base Hospital till they are identified. Group Captain Varun Singh, the only survivor of the crash, is said to be in critical condition.

The bodies of Gen Rawat and his wife will be kept at their 3 Kamaraj Marg residence for the general public to pay their final respects from 11 am to 12:30 pm Friday.

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Military personnel can pay their respects in the slot between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.

The final journey of Gen Rawat from his residence to the Brar Square crematorium is scheduled to start around 2 pm. The funeral is scheduled for 4 pm.

Brigadier Lidder’s funeral would be held at 9 am.

Also read: Explained: Who succeeds General Bipin Rawat? The process of appointing CDS

Besides Gen Rawat, his wife and Brig Lidder, the 10 other personnel killed in the accident are: Lt Col Harjinder Singh, Wing Commander PS Chauhan, Squadron Leader K Singh, JWO Das, JWO Pradeep A, Havildar Satpal, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitender Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik Sai Teja.