The indian army's top general, Rawat, and 13 other people crashed and died, and sources: it may be caused by low visibility caused by heavy fog

Source: Global Times

On the 8th, a helicopter of the Indian military crashed in Tamil Nadu, killing 13 people, including Defense Chief of Staff Rawat.

According to media reports such as the Hindustan Times, a Mi-17V5 helicopter on which Rawat and his wife were riding crashed in the Gunur area of Tamil Nadu. The Indian Air Force has confirmed that there are a total of 14 people on board the helicopter, including the crew. The only survivor so far is a captain working at the Tamil Nadu National Defense Staff College, who is being treated at an army hospital near the site of the accident.

At about 11:50 a.m. on the 8th, Rawat set off by helicopter from Surur Air Base in Tamil Nadu to the Defense Staff College, 100 kilometers away, to deliver a speech to the teachers and students of the school. The helicopter crashed 30 minutes after takeoff. Video and photographs from the scene showed smoke rising from the wreckage of the helicopter after the accident, a group of people trying to extinguish the fire with water, and some soldiers carrying away a wounded person on improvised stretchers. "I arrived at the crash site around 12:30. Someone heard a loud explosion. Manobala, a village official in the Gurnur region, said in a telephone interview. The cause of the accident is unclear. Official sources said the very low visibility caused by the fog may have contributed to the tragedy. The BBC reported on Wednesday that while the Russian-made Mi-17V5 is one of the most advanced military transport helicopters, the aging of the Indian Air Force fleet is often cited as the cause of a large number of crashes.

Agence France-Presse said on the 8th that the 63-year-old Rawat and Indian Prime Minister Modi have a close relationship. The admiral joined the army as a second lieutenant in 1978 and became chief of staff of the Indian Army in 2016. In 2019, the Indian government created the post of Chief of Defence Staff for the first time with the aim of further integrating the Army, Navy and Air Force, and Rawat was the first person to serve as India's Chief of Defence Staff. Modi said the appointment of the chief of defence staff was a major and comprehensive reform that would help India "face the evolving challenges of modern warfare". Rawat has commanded troops in Indian-controlled Kashmir and the China-India border. In November, he declared that "China is our greatest enemy today" and that if India were to fight with China, it would enlist the support of both the United States and Russia. Critics argue that some of Rawat's remarks run counter to the Indian military's tradition of non-interference in politics.

After the Indian military confirmed that Rawat died in the accident, Modi posted a post on Twitter to express his condolences to Rawat and other victims, saying that these people did their best to serve India and that "I am with the families of the victims". Modi praised Rawat's contribution, saying the latter was a true patriot, an outstanding fighter who made a great contribution to the modernization of India's armed forces and security institutions, "his insight into strategic issues is unique." His death saddens me." Indian Defense Minister Singh also tweeted positively of Rawat's previous work. He said Rawat's death was an irreparable loss for the Indian army and the country. Indian Foreign Minister Jaijashan said he was "deeply shocked" by the accident and Rawat's death.

According to the Times of India, Singer has arrived at Rawat's house to talk to his daughter. He also heard a briefing by Army Chief of Staff Narawane about the crash. India's Cabinet Safety Committee has convened a special meeting to discuss the impact of the accident. Defense Minister Singh and Interior Minister Shah attended. Singh had previously reported the matter to Modi. Singh also ordered Air Force Chief of Staff Chowdhury to rush to the scene of the accident. Singh is likely to make a statement in Congress on the matter on the 9th.