India: Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat killed in a helicopter crash

According to the Indian Air Force, 11 other passengers, including Indian Army Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat and his wife, were killed in the helicopter crash.

The Air Force said in a statement on Twitter that General Bipin, his wife and 11 other passengers died of their injuries in the helicopter crash.

A total of 14 people were on board the Mi-17V5 military helicopter that crashed, according to officials. Rescue volunteers managed to save only one of the fourteen lives.

The helicopter crashed in Tamil Nadu as it was flying from an air force base to the Army Defense Service College. The cause of the crash is not yet known.

According to the Indian Air Force, an Indian military chief's helicopter crashed near Connor, a hill station in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, December 8.

Earlier, in a video broadcast on television, flames could be seen rising from a crashed helicopter. Locals and rescue workers were trying to put out the blaze immediately.

Earlier, a local news channel reported that nine people were on board the helicopter, including Rawat's wife and other senior defense officials.

The Indian Air Force said in a tweet that orders had been issued to investigate the incident.

Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat was the most senior officer in the Indian Army. He was also serving as an advisor to the Ministry of Defense. He took over the new post last year after retiring as army chief.

According to the Indian News Agency Press Trust of India, the Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in Tamil Nadu while it was flying from Air Force Base to Army Defense Service College.