New Delhi: The nation is mourning loss of its top General along with 12 others including his wife, who died in an helicopter crash Wednesday.
General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 others were killed when their highly fortified Indian Air Force(IAF) Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed in Coonoor between Coimbatore and Wellington in Tamil Nadu on 9 Dec.
General Bipin Rawat was appointed as the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) in 2019 and previously served as India’s Army Chief. The General was reputed as tough soldier and an inspiring personality. Born on 16 March 1958 in Uttarakhand, he was son of an Army lieutenant general and mother who was a politician’s daughter. He was top student during his military training and received the “Sword of Honour” at the National Defence College and Indian Military Academy.
Has Survived Earlier Copter Crash
In 2015 Rawat survived a helicopter crash in Nagaland In that same year earlier, he had commanded India’s first officially declared surgical strikes on foreign territory when he sent troops of a para-commando battalion to attack Naga rebels inside Myanmar after they ambushed Indian troops.
Nation Pays Homage
Delhi : Posters of the General and crash are pasted along streets of Delhi with thousands paying tribute in front of them across the capital city.
Also, gasket with Brigadier LS Lidder’s mortal remains have been brought to Brar Square in Delhi with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paying their respects there.
Kashmir : A candle-lit march took of from Dawar market to Dawar War memorial in Gurez in Jammu & Kashmir paying respects to the departed Rawats and other soldiers.
Joint Tribute To Brig LS Lidder By Three Service Chiefs
General Bipin Rawat’s mortal remains and that of his wife Madhulika Rawat, and others were brought into their residence in Delhi Thursday and laid for wreath-laying ceremony at Palam Airbase, where the three service chiefs - Army Chief General MM Naravane, navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudari, paid their tributes.
5/11 Gorkha Rijfes Tasked With General’s Funeral Arrangements
General Bipin Rawat’s Unit, the 5/11 Gorkha Rifles, is entrusted with his funeral arrangements.
(This is a developing story , please return for updates)
