Prime Minister Narendra Modi led tributes to Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other armed forces personnel, as their mortal remains were brought to Delhi's Palam airport on Thursday evening.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the three Service chiefs, along with several relatives of the victims were also present as the Indian Air Force aircraft carrying the mortal remains of those killed in the tragic helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday arrived from Sulur at around 7.45 PM.
According to reports, the positive identification of only three mortal remains – General Rawat, Madhulika Rawat and Brig L S Lidder – has been possible as of now, and their mortal remains will be released to the next of kin for final rites as desired by the respective families.
The remaining mortal remains will be kept at the mortuary of Army Base Hospital till completion of positive identification formalities.
The defence forces said that all necessary assistance and support is being provided to the relatives of the deceased who have arrived in the capital.
Appropriate military funerals of all the deceased are being planned and coordinated in close consultation with the close family members.
Earlier in the day, all the mortal remains were moved in a convoy from Wellington to Sulur at around 12 noon. From Sulur, the mortal remains were flown to Delhi in an Indian Air Force aircraft.
The condition of Group Captain Varun Singh, who survived the crash, is still critical. He has been moved to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru for further treatment.
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