Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat died in a helicopter crash near Conoor, Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. Following the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) confirmation of the news, officials from across the globe expressed their condolences, including from: the United States, France, Russia, Israel, the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, Czech Republic, the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Singapore, and the European Union.
The helicopter crash killed 13 people, including General Rawat and his wife. They were on board a Russian-made Mi-17 V5 chopper of the IAF and were travelling from Sulur, Coimbatore to Wellington in the Nilgiri Hills. According to sources cited by NDTV, the helicopter had begun descending and would have landed in ten minutes.
#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper. pic.twitter.com/6oxG7xD8iW
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021
General Rawat was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, a position set up to integrate India’s three military services—the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. He was appointed to the position in January 2019 and was also appointed as the head of the newly set up Department of Military Affairs.
His demise creates a vacuum in several top security positions. As the Chief of Defence Staff, Rawat also held the position of the Permanent Chairman of the Chief of Staffs Committee and the principal adviser to the defence minister. The Indian government will therefore have to look for a replacement to unify the three services and bring them under an integrated theatre command. It is considered to be the “biggest reorganisation” of the Indian military since independence.
Several Indian leaders have expressed their anguish about the incident. In a series of tweets, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi celebrated General Rawat as a “patriot” and an “outstanding soldier” who served India with “utmost diligence.” A similar sentiment of regret and lament was echoed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, and Union Minister Amit Shah.
I am deeply anguished by the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in which we have lost Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and other personnel of the Armed Forces. They served India with utmost diligence. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2021
Deeply shocked by the tragic death of Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his spouse Smt. Madhulika Rawat, senior officials of the armed forces & others in a helicopter crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/6L6sxVtwbh
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) December 8, 2021
A very sad day for the nation as we have lost our CDS, General Bipin Rawat Ji in a very tragic accident. He was one of the bravest soldiers, who has served the motherland with utmost devotion. His exemplary contributions & commitment cannot be put into words. I am deeply pained.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 8, 2021
The incident also garnered condolences from across the world. The US embassy in India recalled the historic transformation brought in by General Rawat, whom it credited with enhancing bilateral military cooperation. The statement also mentioned General Rawat’s five-day visit to the US in October, during which he met with his American counterpart Mark Milley. Similarly, representatives of the French, Australian, Japanese, Israeli, German, Chinese, Russian, and British embassies also offered their condolences.
Additionally, leaders of several countries released statements following General Rawat’s death. The list thus far includes: Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Bhutanese PM Lotay Tshering, and Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz also expressed their sadness.
My deep condolences on the deaths of Indian Chief of Defense Staff General Rawat, his wife, and colleagues who perished in today’s tragic accident. We'll remember Gen. Rawat as an exceptional leader who served his country and contributed to the U.S.-India defense relationship. https://t.co/yjLv9R05on
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) December 8, 2021
Furthermore, despite rising tensions between India and Pakistan, several top members of the Pakistani Army expressed their regret. The spokesperson for the Pakistani Army said Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had expressed their condolences. In addition, the Pakistani Air Force tweeted: “Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI(M) Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force has expressed his condolences on the tragic death of Indian CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his spouse, and 11 other passengers/crew members in the helicopter crash today.”
Meanwhile, several commentators have raised concerns about the history of accidents involving Mi-17s. The chopper is a modern helicopter, which the IAF uses to carry personnel, cargo, and equipment. However, over the past ten years, there have been at least five incidents involving the chopper, resulting in over 42 deaths. The most recent one was in February 2019 in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in six deaths.
Amid these concerns, the IAF has ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause of the crash.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also scheduled to address the incident at the Parliament on Thursday.