New Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Palam airport here on Thursday evening and paid tributes to Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other armed forces personnel who lost their lives in the mishap. A military helicopter crashed on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Before the Prime Minister, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh reached the airport and first of all met the families of all the deceased and expressed condolences to them.
Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and all service chiefs offered condolences.
The mortal remains of the accident victims were brought to Palam airport at 7:46 pm from Sulur airport near Coimbatore. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhary brought the mortal remains of all the dead.
The force said only three – General Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and Brigadier L.S. Positive identification of Lidder’s mortal remains has been possible so far and their mortal remains will be handed over to the respective families for last rites.
The force said that all possible measures are being taken for positive identification of dead bodies. The remaining bodies will be kept in the mortuary of Army Base Hospital till the formalities of positive identification are completed.
The families of all the deceased jawans have reached Delhi. All necessary assistance is being given to them by the Indian Army.
Proper military funerals of all the dead are being planned and their family members are being coordinated and consulted.
