KEY POINTS

  • Rawat's family members were also on board
  • The chopper crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu
  • Nine people were traveling on the Mi-17V5 helicopter

A helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on board met with an accident Wednesday at Coonoor in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Out of the nine people who were traveling on the Indian Air Force chopper, three have been rescued with serious injuries. A search is being conducted to find the others.

CDS Rawat was traveling with his staff and family members on the Mi-17V5 helicopter. He had departed the Indian Air Force base in Sulur near Coimbatore and was on his way to Wellington in Coonoor when the crash took place between Coimbatore and Sulur, according to India Today.

Locals told military officers at the scene that two bodies, covered with 80 percent burns, were taken to the hospital, reported Deccan Herald. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the causes that lead to the devastating accident.

India's defence chief General Bipin Rawat was on board a helicopter that crashed
India's defence chief General Bipin Rawat was on board a helicopter that crashed AFP / SAJJAD HUSSAIN
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