Nation lost one of its bravest sons: President Kovind on CDS Gen. Rawat

New Delhi, Dec 08: Condolences poured in from various quarters over the death of Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat. President of India Ram Nath Kovind said that the nation has lost its bravest sons.

I am shocked and anguished over the untimely demise of Gen. Bipin Rawat and his wife, Madhulika ji.

The nation has lost one of its bravest sons. His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences to his family, the President said in a tweet.

It's deeply painful for me to learn of the loss of lives in the chopper crash. I join the fellow citizens in paying tributes to each of those who died while performing their duty. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the President also said.

General Bipin Rawat has died in a chopper crash that took place in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu earlier today.

With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident, the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.

The chopper was heading to the defence establishment in Wellington and the crash took place in the Nilgiris shortly after the Mi-Series chopper took off from the Army base in Sulur.