CDS Bipin Rawat was found alive, died on way to hospital: Firemen

Ground Report | New Delhi: Bipin Rawat was found alive; A firefighter who was part of the rescue team said that Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat was alive when he was evacuated from the crashed Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter.

The rescuer said the late CDS also gave his name when he was being pulled from the wreckage of an Indian Air Force helicopter. Besides this, another person, CDS Rawat, was also pulled out of the debris, later identified as Group Captain Varun Singh, who was the only survivor in the accident.

ALSO READ: Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash, Pakistan Army also expressed grief

“We saved two people alive. One was CDS Rawat. As soon as we pulled him out, he spoke to the defense personnel in a low voice in Hindi and said his name. He died on his way to hospital. We could not immediately identify the other person who was taken to the hospital and is currently undergoing treatment,” said rescuer NC Murali.

The rescue team found the area difficult. “There was no way to move the fire engine to douse the fire. We had to bring water in pots from nearby rivers and houses. The operation was so difficult as we had to cut open the jagged pieces of the chopper to rescue people or retrieve the bodies,” said Murali.

Another local, identified as Krishna Murthy, who reached the spot to help the injured, said, "The two people we rescued had very little lives."

Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary, arrives at the crash site of the helicopter that crashed yesterday in Tamil Nadu.

Group Captain Varun Singh is injured in this accident and is undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will give a statement about the accident in Parliament today.

Meanwhile, condolence messages are coming from all over the world on this accident and the death of CDS General Rawat. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that General Rawat did a great job during his UN posting.

Guteresh said, “I am saddened by the death of CDS General Rawat and 11 others. I send condolence message to his family. General Rawat had also given his services to the United Nations. He was a brigade commander in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Congo. He did a great job there and we appreciate his work." (Bipin Rawat was found alive)

Everything we know so far 

• India's first Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday morning.

• General Rawat was accompanied by a total of 14 people including his staff in the helicopter, out of which 13 have been confirmed dead.

• In this tragic accident, the life of Group Captain Varun Singh has been saved, who is currently undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital in Tamil Nadu.

• His staff, including General Rawat, were on board the IAF's Mi 17 V5 helicopter, which is considered relatively safe.

• According to experts, big personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind use this helicopter.

• The Air Force has ordered a high-level inquiry into this helicopter accident, in which the reasons for this accident will be revealed.

• Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will give an official statement on this incident in both the houses of Parliament today.

• Many countries including America and their military officers around the world have paid tribute to General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other soldiers who were victims of this accident.

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