What disaster happened on 8th December 2021?
India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat succumbed to injuries on Wednesday. The date was the 8th of December, 2021. It happened after an Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopter carrying 14 people crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor.
Sixty-three-year-old Rawat along with his wife and his staff were travelling to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. They were going to deliver a lecture at 2:45 pm. A total of 14 persons were on board the Mi-17 V5 helicopter, of which 13 died. Group Captain Varun Singh SC survived the crash.
Who was Madhulika Rawat?
Mrs Madhulika Rawat was the President of AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association) and wife of Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. She worked for the welfare of wives, children and dependents of Army personnel.
AWWA is one of the largest NGOs in India. Madhulika Rawat had been a part of many welfare programmes and campaigns that aid the Veer Naris (Army widows) and differently-abled children.
What was Madhulika Rawat’s role in supporting Army wives?
Madhulika Rawat had been a catalyst in empowering the Army wives, encouraging them to take courses in tailoring, knitting and bag making along with beautician courses and making `Cakes and Chocolates’ to make them financially independent.
She also promoted the Health Awareness and Well Being of its members. Madhulika Rawat did her studies in Delhi and completed her graduation in psychology from Delhi University. Apart from AWWA, she was a part of many types of social work, especially for cancer victims.
Who is General Bipin Rawat?
General Bipin and Madhulika are parents to two daughters. General Bipin is the first and current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India. He was appointed the same on 1 January 2020.
Born in Pauri, Uttrakhand, Bipin’s family has been serving in the Indian Army for four generations. His wife Dr Madhulika Rawat has been a constant support in his service to the nation.
What did officials say about the disaster?
Confirming the incident, the Indian Air Force tweeted: “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
Sources said the Union Cabinet is currently on and Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the incident. Army Chief General MM Naravane briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over the incident of the crash of the military chopper. The Defence Minister visited CDS Bipin’s residence to brief the family of the current situation.
Who was there along with the Rawat family in the crash?
The people onboard the IAF helicopter was CDS Bipin, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Defence Assistant to CDS Brigadier LS Lidder, SO to CDS Lt. Col. Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja and Havaldar Satpal.
