By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, Dec 9, 2021: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) December 9 joined national and international leaders to express shock and sadness over a chopper crash that killed 13 people, including India’s Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat.
The crash occurred December 8 when Rawat, 63, was on his way to the Defense Services Staff College in Wellington, a town in the Nilgiris district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, to give a lecture. He was accompanied by his wife Madhulika and 12 others.
Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor after the Russian-made Mi-17V5 military helicopter crashed. He is currently undergoing treatment for injuries at the Military Hospital in Wellington. The crash happened at Coonoor, 3 km south of Wellington. The chopper had just taken off from an army base in Sulur near Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to General Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defense Staff.
General Rawat “brought with him a rich experience of serving in the Army. India will never forget his exceptional service,” the prime minister tweeted. “A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernizing our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptions. His passing away has saddened me deeply.”
The Indian bishops noted that the “defense of the nation is of utmost importance and the loss of the Chief of Defense Staff has certainly shocked and saddened the nation.”
The condolence message signed by the bishops’ conference’s secretary general Archbishop Felix Machado also says that the country will remember “the courage, dedication and commitment our Armed Forces exhibit when on duty; guarding the safety of the country and working in challenging situations.”
CBCI also offered condolences and prayers to the families of all the bereaved and assured prayers for the eternal rest to the departed.
Federal Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on December 9 paid homage to the victims in parliament. “With profound grief and heavy heart, I stand to convey the unfortunate news of the crash of the military helicopter in the noon of 8 December 2021, with India’s first Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat on board,” the minister said.
The bodies of the crash victims are expected to be brought to the national capital on December 9. The funerals of General Rawat and his wife are scheduled for December 10.
Top military officers from Pakistan have expressed condolences over the “tragic death” of General Rawat. Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa had served with General Rawat in a UN peacekeeping mission in Congo in 2008, The Hindu newspaper reported.
Nikolay Kudashev, Russia’s Ambassador to India, said his country had lost “a very close friend” in General Rawat.
Ugo Astuto, the European Union’s ambassador to India, tweeted condolences to the families of the Gen Rawat and the other military personnel who died with him.
Other diplomats based in India also expressed their sadness over the crash.
The Indian Air Force has ordered an investigation into the accident that happened in foggy weather. India’s cabinet security committee on December 8 held an emergency session, chaired by Prime Minister Modi.
Gen Rawat was appointed India’s Chief of Defense Staff in 2019, a post that brought together the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. General Rawat had previously served as the chief of India’s army.