Chopper of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat crashes in Tamil Nadu, killing four

On Wednesday, an Indian Air Force chopper carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat crashed in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. The incident claimed the lives of two persons.

So far, three individuals have been rescued, while the others are still being sought. According to sources, there were fourteen individuals on board.

The three people who were rescued had critical injuries and were brought to the Wellington cantonment hospital in the Nilgiris district.

The Mi-series chopper crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu, killing CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife, a defence aide, security commandos, and an IAF pilot, according to ANI news agency. According to sources, CDS Bipin Rawat was en route from the Indian Air Force facility in Sulur near Coimbatore to Wellington in Coonoor.

Images from the crash site of an Indian Air Force helicopter showed enormous flames and villagers assisting with the first rescue efforts. Several teams are conducting search and rescue operations on the scene. Local military officers arrived at the scene and were informed that two victims with 80 percent burns had been transferred to a local hospital, while more bodies were visible downhill, according to the ANI news agency.

The Indian Air Force acknowledged the occurrence on Twitter, stating that an investigation into the cause of the crash has been requested.

"An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF tweeted.

An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying CDS Gen Bipin Rawat met an accident in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, today.

An investigation into the cause of the accident has been ordered.