Heart-wrenching scenes were seen at the Palam airport as 13 caskets were lined up inside a hangar in presence of their family members.
Earlier India Army Top Brass CDS Bipin his wife along with 11 military people were killed when their helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu in an air tragedy that triggered grief across the country.
Telangana and Pondicherry Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan paid her last respects to the bodies of military personals.
People of Connoor thronged roads and prayed with folded hands , showered petals and many cried enroute when the convey carrying Indian flag embolden caskets left
Tamilnadu Governor Ravi with his family visited to Srirangam temple and also conducted interaction with Bhratiyar University students in capacity of his position as chancellor
Micro bloggers quipped why none of BJP Union ministers could come here at Coonoor .. Also many critics poured in Social media for TN governor acts and also they come out with micro details such as Distance between Chennai to Thirchi is 360 Kms whereas the distance between Coonoor and Thirchi is Just 260 kms
On hearing the news on 8 December DMK Party led Tamilnadu Cheif Minister who rushed over the spot with in hours to Coonoor and spend his time over there till Indian Army persons bodies were taken off ..
In his tweet he said “With a heavy heart, I paid my salutes and last respects, on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, to the mortal remains of our CDS Gen #BipinRawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat and other selfless defence personnel who lost their lives in the #HelicopterCrash, while in service of the nation.
Then after An Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules transport airc carrying the bodies from the Sulur airbase touched down at the Palam technical airport around 7:35 pm.
Only three of the 13 bodies have been identi fied so far — Gen Rawat and his wife, Madhulika Rawat and Brigadier LS Lidder. Army officials said the bodies of those identified will be released to the families for last rites.
The other bodies will be kept at the mortuary at the Army Base Hospital till they are identified.
The bodies of Gen Rawat and his wife will be kept at their 3 Kamaraj Marg residence for the general public to pay their final respects from 11 am to 12:30 pm Friday.
BJP MP and Former Union Minister Subramaniya Swamy Questioned the accident and demanded investigation under a sitting Supreme Court judge leads to heated exchange amongst BJP functionaries
Meanwhile inside parliament Union Govt did not allow Opposition to pay tribute to CDS Rawat, alleges Kharge
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that the government did not allow opposition leaders to pay tributes to the late CDS General Bipin Rawat and others who died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
Addressing media, Kharge said after defence minister Rajnath Singh finished his statement, he along other leaders requested the Chair to allow them to pay tribute, but the Chair did not allow.
“I as the leader of the Opposition and floor leaders of other parties wanted to pay tributes…We asked for two minutes but were not allotted,” said Kharge.
Saying that “what kind of democracy is being run in the country?” Kharge added, “
We (Opposition) condemn this. To pay our respect to the late CDS, army officers, jawans who died in the crash we even called off our dharna today.”
“It is unfortunate that we were not allowed to pay homage to the martyrs.
We condemn that the Chair did not allow us. We can differ on political issues and we are fine with that.
But here a CDS has died. 11 jawans died but we were not allowed to pay our tributes. I will pray may the government get wisdom and may the family members get the strength to tolerate the pain,” added the senior Congress leader.
Speaking the in the upper house over the chopper crash in which General Rawat and his wife died, defence minister Rajnath Singh said, “The government is trying its best to save the survivor from helicopter crash”.
The Chief of Defence Staff would be cremated with full military honors.
“I, on behalf of the august House, pay homage to the deceased persons and express condolences to the bereaved families…A tri service enquiry regarding the incident has been ordered by Indian Air Force, headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command, said Rajnath Singh.
