In the tragic helicopter in Sulur of Tamil Nadu yesterday, along with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Mrs. Madhulika Rawat, 11 other military personnel lost their lives.
General Bipin Rawat was accompanied by his Defence Advisor Brigadier LS Lidder and SO Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh. From the IAF Wing Commander PS Chauhan, Squadron Leader K Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Das, and Junior Warrant Officer Pradeep A were present.
Four soldiers of the elite Para regiment were also present, they were, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar of 1 Para SF, Naik Jitendra Kumar of 3 Para SF, Naik Gursewak Singh of 9 Para SF, and Lance Naik B Sai Teja. All four jawans were the PSOs to Chief of Defence Staff.
Out of all 14 people in the ill-fated Mi-17 V5, only one survived who is the IAF officer Group Captain Varun Singh. The officer has sustained serious burns and is currently being treated at the military hospital in Wellington.
