President of India Dr Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have joined the nation in mourning the tragic death of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 brave soldiers of the armed forces in an IAF helicopter crash at Kateri near Coonoor Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
In his condolence message President of India, who is also the head of the Indian Armed Forces said he is saddened and anguished over the untimely demise of Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Mudhulika Rawat. The nation has lost one of its bravest sons. His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences to his bereaved family”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other personnel of the armed forces. They served India with utmost diligence, my thoughts are with the bereaved families”.
Prime Minister said, “Gen. Bipin Rawat was an outstanding soldier, a true patriot. He greatly contributed to modernizing our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional. His passing away has saddened me, om shanti”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “I am deeply anguished by sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel in an extremely unfortunate helicopter accident today in Tamil Nadu . Gen Rawat served the country with exceptional courage and diligence . As the first CDS he had prepared plans for jointness of power of forces” .
Anurag Thakur, Union Information and broadcasting Minister said he is anguished by the demise of India’s first CDS Gen Rawat, his wife and 11 other personnel in the helicopter crash. Gen Rawat served the nation with valor and work towards strengthening India’s defense apparatus and country will never forget his exemplary service.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have expressed deep grief over the sudden demise of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces in a tragic helicopter crash near Coonoor, in Tamil Nadu today. Gen. Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (Nilgiri Hills) to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course.
In his condolence message, the Governor said that Gen. Bipin Rawat contributed immensely for security of the nation and modernising the Indian Armed Forces. His demise was a great loss to the nation. He expressed his sympathy with the bereaved family members.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the nation has lost a decorated officer and top commander of Indian army, who has made the country proud on several occasions. He said that the country would always remember the services provided by Gen. Rawat.
Chief Minister prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this irreparable loss. He also wished speedy recovery to Group Captain Varun Singh.
Uttarakhand’s Puskar Singh Dhami, Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, Meghalaya’s Conrad Sangma and others have also mourned the untimely death of Gen Rawat and his wife and 11 others in the copper crash.
The former Army Chief Gen VK Singh, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary and Chief of the Naval Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar Have also express their grief over the untimely death of Gen Bipan Rawat, his wife and 11 armed forces personnel in the helicopter crash.
