Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat died in a chopper crash in the Nilgiris, near Coonoor city in Tamil Nadu. He was travelleing in an Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter which crashed in the foggy weather in the Nilgiris hills on December 8, 2021.

Highlights
• The helicopter crash has killed CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife along with 11 other staff. The only survivor Varun Singh is undergoing treatment in Bengaluru.
• An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the crash.
• Mi-17V5 helicopter is a Russia made helicopter. It is an advanced transport helicopter which is with the Indian Air Force since 2012.
• Gen Bipin Rawat as well as all those who died will be cremated today.
• The 'black box', or flight data recorder, of the crashed chopper has been recovered.

Who was General Bipin Rawat?
• General Bipin Rawat was an Indian military officer and a four-star general of the Indian Army. He was appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces and he took the office of CDS from on 1 January 2020 and held it until his death on 8 December 2021. The creation of the position of CDS brought together the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

• Before becoming CDS, he had served as 27th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.

About his Military Career
Bipin Rawat was commissioned into 5th battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1978. He had much experience in high-altitude warfare. He spent ten years conducting counter-insurgency operations. He commanded a company in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir, as a major. He also commanded the 5th battalion 11 Gorkha Rifles as a colonel, along the Line of Actual Control at Kibithu. In 2016, he was appointed as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff.