Bipin Rawat, Commander-in-Chief of India's 3rd Battalion, was among those who travelled in the army helicopter which crashed near Coonoor in the Nilgiris district.
Preliminary reports say 14 people were on board the helicopter. Four people have so far been confirmed dead in the crash. The search for and rescue of the rest is in full swing.
The indian Air Force has said that the Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying Bipin Rawat crashed.
The indian Air Force has said it will investigate the cause of the crash.
Who is the first Commander-in-Chief of India, General Bipin Rawat?
General Bipin Rawat was educated at St. Edward's school in Shimla. He later studied at the National Defense Academy in Cuttack. He joined the Fifth Regiment of the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles Division in december 1978 at the indian army Training Center at Dehradun.
He was responsible for training including the Chief of Staff of the indian army Directorate at the indian army Training Center at Dehradun. He served as the Logistics Division Officer in the Central Region.
Bipin Rawat served in the army Secretary's Division as Under Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the army in the rank of Colonel.
Bipin Rawat, a graduate of the Defense service Training college in Wellington, also graduated from the National Defense college with a degree in various disciplines. Bipin Rawat also attended training classes for military commanders in fort Leavenworth, USA.
General Bipin Rawat has written various articles on national security and leadership. It has been published in many magazines.
He was awarded an M.Phil degree in Defense Studies from the university of Chennai. He holds a bachelor's degree in management and computer science.
