Zoom News : Dec 09, 2021, 07:19 AM
New Delhi: The cremation of chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika, who died in a chopper crash along with 11 others in Tamil Nadu earlier in the day, will be performed on Friday in Delhi Cantonment.According to agency inputs, their mortal remains are expected to reach Delhi by a military plane from Coimbatore on Thursday by air, after a wreath-laying ceremony at Wellington.The bodies would be brought to the CDS’ residence where people would be allowed to pay their last respect from 11am to 2pm, followed by a funeral procession which will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.The Indian Air Force (IAF) copter carrying Gen Rawat, appointed as CDS in 2019, and his entourage crashed near Coonoor in the southern state, killing all except one. The lone survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC, is reportedly being rushed to Bengaluru in a critical condition after undergoing treatment at a nearby military hospital."With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," the IAF said in a tweet. Rawat was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the staff course when the fatal accident happened.The IAF said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident, involving a Mi-17VH helicopter which took off from the Sulur IAF Station in nearby Coimbatore.