An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter carrying 13 army personnel, including Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, crashed near Coonoor municipality in the nearby hilly Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu. The aircraft was on its way from the Sulur IAF base to the Defense Services College at Wellington when it crashed, police sources said.

Emergency and rescue operation teams were quickly on the scene. Four dead bodies have been recovered. Three on board were seriously injured and taken to a hospital. Identification of the deceased is currently under way.