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India's military chief General Bipin Rawat, his wife and at least five other senior Army officers are feared killed in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu Wednesday.
The 63-year-old four-star General is India's first and current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
"An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident," the Indian Air Force tweeted.
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A total of 14 people were reportedly on board the helicopter of General Rawat, which crashed in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in Coonoor district.
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Rescue operations are currently underway, military sources told the local media.