By PTI
NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told Parliament that a tri-services inquiry led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has started investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others.
Singh said in a statement in the Lok Sabha that all efforts were being made to save IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, who was on life support at the military hospital in Wellington.
“A tri-services inquiry headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has been ordered by the Indian Air Force. A team of investigators had reached Wellington yesterday (Wednesday) itself and started their work,” Singh said.
Gen Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, his wife Madhulika and 11 other armed forces personnel died when the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed.
The last rites of the Chief of Defence Staff will be performed with full military honours, Singh said.
He said the last rites of the other military personnel who died in the crash will also be conducted with appropriate military honours.
The Lok Sabha on Thursday paid tributes to Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu.
The members also stood in silence for a brief while as a mark of respect for the departed souls.
As soon as the House met for the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on the crash, and said that an inquiry has started into the incident.
He also paid tributes to the deceased.
Paying tributes, Speaker Om Birla said that Rawat had worked a lot towards bringing in reforms in the system and would be remembered for his dedication.
Thirteen of the 14 people on board the helicopter died in the crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
Group Captain Varun Singh, who survived the crash, is on life support at a Wellington hospital.
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday too mourned the death of Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and the slain IAF personnel, with the Deputy Chairman describing India’s first Chief of Defence Staff as an exceptional and distinguished military leader.
When the House met for the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed the house about the tragic accident in Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday afternoon in which CDS Rawat, 63, his wife Madhulika and 11 other defence personnel died.
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Reading out Rawat’s obituary, Harivansh said the CDS had an illustrious military career spanning over four decades during which he held several important staff positions and went on to become the Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2016.
“In the last two years, Gen Rawat tried to bring transformative reforms in the security architecture of our country,” Harivansh said.
As an individual, he will always be remembered for his commitment to the nation as well as troops, he said.
“In the passing away of Gen Rawat, the country has lost an outstanding soldier and an exceptional and distinguished military leader,” he said.
The House, he said, deeply mourns the passing away of Gen Rawat, his wife, and 11 others.
“The loss of precious lives is indeed painful and unfortunate,” he said after which members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.
Thereafter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement about the incident, which was identical to the one made in the Lok Sabha earlier.
Singh said that Group Captain Varun Singh, who survived the crash, is on life support at a Wellington hospital.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge wanted that floor leaders of all parties to be allowed to pay tributes but Harivansh said the House has collectivity mourned the deaths and there was no precedent to allow such a thing.
Congress leader Anand Sharma backed Kharge but the deputy chairman disallowed it.
