In a heartwarming gesture, the Indian Army thanked the locals who helped in rescue activities after the IAF helicopter carrying the late CDS General Bipin Rawat crashed and resulted in the deaths of the 14 passengers. In the heart-touching words, the Army said the villagers were like ‘God’ to the victims.
On December 8, the nation lost Chief of Defence Staff Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 others in the crash.
While thanking the villagers for their efforts, General Officer Commanding Headquarters Dakshin Bharath, Lieutenant General A Arun mentioned:
“Many of you helped…police and army said that but for the help of the villagers, the 14 could not have been moved to hospital on time.. the Air Force officer is alive and battling (for life at a Bengaluru hospital)… if he is there (alive) you are the reason…So you were like God for those 14. Thank you very much,”Â
While announcing the news of the adoption of the village by Headquarters Dakshin Bharath, his team distributed blankets, ration items and solar emergency lamps. He also mentioned that a shed would be made in the village for gatherings and functions. He also thanked the Tamil Nadu government, Chief Minister MK Stalin and secretaries of various departments for their role in the rescue.
The rescuers found two people, including General Bipin Rawat and Group Captain Varun Singh, alive after the crash of the IAF helicopter in Coonoor, near Ooty in Tamil Nadu. According to NC Murali, a senior fireman who was one of the first to reach the spot where the Mi-17V5 had crashed, General Rawat was alive and was able to communicate when he was found.
While sharing the details, Murali told The Times Of India, “We rescued two people alive. One was CDS Rawat. As we carried him out, he spoke in a low tone to the defence personnel in Hindi and uttered his name,”
According to him, General Rawat had suffered severe burns in the lower part of his body. “He was taken to the ambulance wrapped in a bedsheet,” Murali said, adding that he died on the way to the hospital.
Recently, the news came in that the lone survivor Group Captain Varun Singh, who was ‘battling’ for his life, passes away. Indian Air Force informed on Twitter today that Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of Tamil Nadu chopper crash – who was under treatment at Command Hospital in Bengaluru – passed away at the hospital.
IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 15, 2021
At IFORHER, we pray for strength and courage for his family. R.I.P Brave Soul!