Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, an Army Brigadier, and ten others perished when an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying them crashed into a heavily wooded area of the Coonoor ghat in the Nilgiris in western Tamil Nadu on the afternoon of December 8. The cause of the chopper crash, in which there is only one survivor, is being investigated.
Editorial | A tragic loss: On the death of Gen Bipin Rawat
The mortal remains of Gen. Rawat and his wife are at their official residence in New Delhi before cremation.
Here are the latest updates:
CDS Rawat, wife Madhulika cremated with full military honours
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat were cremated with full military honours at the Brar Square crematorium here on Friday.
Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 other defence personnel were killed when a Mi17V5 helicopter carrying them crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
The mortal remains of General Bipin Rawat and his wife were cremated at Brar Square cremation ground. Their two daughters performed the last rites. - PTI
Huge crowds gather at Brar Square
Huge crowds of mourners gathered outside as armed forces personnel took the mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat inside the Brar Square crematorium in the Delhi Cantonment on Friday.
Along with about 800 service personnel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain and British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis were also in attendance for the military funeral of India's first Chief of Defence Staff.
People showered flower petals and raised slogans in the general's praise as the gun carriage carrying his mortal remains entered the crematorium. - PTI
Brigadier Lidder cremated with full military honours; defence minister, NSA pay last respects
Brigadier L.S. Lidder, who died along with 12 others in the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, was cremated with full military honours at the Brar Square crematorium in New Delhi on Friday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Haryana Chief Minister M.L. Khattar earlier in the morning laid wreaths on Lidder's mortal remains, which were kept at Brar Square in Delhi cantonment before the cremation.
Many senior defence personnel also paid their last respects to Lidder.
Geetika Lidder, wife of Brigadier Lidder, told reporters after the cremation that she is feeling more pain than any pride.
"Life is too long to spend but if this is the wish of God, we will live with it. This is not the way we wanted him back," she stated.
She mentioned that he was a very good father and their daughter will really miss him. "It is a big loss," she added.
Daughter Aashna Lidder said she is 17 years old and she will keep all the good memories of the 17 years she spent with her father. "I am happy he did not have to suffer. It is a national loss. My father was a hero," she mentioned. She said her father was a happy-go-lucky person and was her best friend. "He used to infuse passion not just in me but in every person. He was a great motivator," she noted. "I feel scared as I was really pampered by my father," he added. - PTI
Farmers hold 'havan' at Ghazipur border to pray for Gen Rawat, other victims of chopper crash
Farmers at the Ghazipur border on Friday organised a 'havan' to pray for Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other defence personnel who were killed in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.
Besides farmers, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait, BKU Uttar Pradesh president Rajbir Singh Jadaun and other office-bearers attended the 'havan', according to the state vice president of the farmers' group Rajbir Singh.
A Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying Gen. Rawat, his wife and 11 other defence personnel crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
As India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Rawat was tasked with bringing in theatre command and jointness among the three services, and he was pushing it with a tough approach and specific timelines over the last two years.
Known to be forthright, fearless, and blunt at times, the 63-year-old strongly backed a policy of hot pursuit in dealing with cross-border terrorism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir when he was the Army Chief between 2016 and 2019.
Farmers were also busy dismantling the encampments they set up at the protest site over the past year as they got ready to head back home.
Mr. Singh said the community kitchens will be operational till the protest site is completely cleared.
The Ghazipur border is most likely to be vacated by Saturday, he said. - PTI
Funeral procession of CDS General Bipin Rawat in progress at Delhi Cantt in New Delhi on Friday
Amid chants of 'amar rahe', Gen Rawat's funeral procession leaves his bungalow for last rites
Amid chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'General Rawat amar rahe', the funeral procession of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat left his official residence for the last rites at the Brar Square crematorium in the Delhi Cantonment on Friday.
Military personnel drawn from all the three services marched towards the streets as drummers played along in tribute to India's first Chief of Defence Staff.
As the mortal remains of General Rawat, carried in a casket wrapped in a tricolour, was moved to a gun carriage, decorated with flowers, people showered petals and raised slogans in his praise.
As India's first Chief of Defence Staff, General Rawat was tasked to bring in theatre command and jointness among the three services, and he was pushing these with a tough approach and specific timelines in the last two years.
The mortal remains of General Rawat and his wife were kept at their official residence here before cremation, to allow people to pay respects. - PTI
Following Senior Military Commanders from Friendly Foreign Countries have arrived in New Delhi to attend the final farewell of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat
Srilanka
• Gen Shavendra Silva, Chief of Def Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
• Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne (Retd), Former Chief of Defence Staff (his course mate at National Defence College and a dear friend)
Bhutan
Brig Dorji Rinchen, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Royal Bhutan Army
Nepal
Suprobal Janasewashree Lt Gen Bal Krishna Karki, Chief of General Staff (equivalent to Vice Chief of Army Staff), Nepali Army
Bangladesh
Lt Gen Waker-UZ-Zaman, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, Bangladesh- Dinakar Peri
A total of 800 service personnel will be in attendance for the military funeral of CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat. Gen. Rawat will be accorded a 17 gun salute, as per laid down protocols. Post the playing of the Last Post and Rouse by tri services buglers, the funeral pyre will be lit by family members. - Dinakar Peri
For the funeral procession, six officers (2 each from Army, Navy & Air Force) of the rank of Lieutenant General equivalent will be the Pall (National Flag) Bearers.
Ceremonial Battery of Army’s 2233 Field Regiment is providing gun carriage. 99 personnel of all ranks from Army, Navy and Air force and 33 members of the triservices band will form the front escort while 99 all ranks from the three Services will act as the Rear Escort. - Dinakar Peri
Total 12 officers (from Army, Navy & Air Force) of the rank of Brigadier and equivalent are on Vigil Duty to maintain continuous vigil over the mortal remains as it is laid in state his residence till 1:30 p.m. - Dinakar Peri
Rahul Gandhi pays last respects to Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, at their residence.
Home Minister Shah pays last respects to CDS Gen. Rawat, his wife
Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday laid wreaths on the mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who were among the 13 killed in the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and British Ambassador to India Alexander Ellis was among the other leaders who paid their last respects to Gen Rawat and his wife. - PTI
Defence Minister, NSA, Haryana CM pay last respects to Brigadier Lidder
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar on Friday laid wreaths on the mortal remains of Brigadier L S Lidder, who died along with 12 others in the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu.
Brigadier Lidder's mortal remains were kept at Brar square in Delhi cantonment before his cremation.
Many senior defence personnel also paid their last respects to Lidder at Brar square. - PTI
