CDS chopper crash: Air Force continues probe at Coonoor

The team led by Air Marshall Manavendra Singh has deployed drones over the crash site

Investigators from the Indian Air Force (IAF) continued to fly drones over the site where a Mi17V5 helicopter carrying Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others crashed for the second day on Friday, looking for more evidence from the spot.

Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Sylendra Babu visited Nanjappanchathiram village in Coonoor and felicitated the villagers who rushed to the crash site and rescued “three persons alive.”

He said the villagers used bedspreads and water to douse the fire as much as they can and pulled out three people from the rubble. However, only Group Captain Varun Singh survived the crash, and his condition is currently critical.

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“The villagers were the first respondents and they were joined by police personnel from Coonoor within minutes. They reached at 12.25 pm. We salute everyone who braved their lives to help those affected by the crash. The villagers and the police team rescued three people alive. The three had even spoken to the villagers,” Babu said.

The rescued were taken to the Military Hospital in Wellington.

While felicitating the villagers, the DGP also handed over new bedsheets and other articles to them.

The IAF, which is investigating the helicopter crash, flew drones at the crash site for the second day on Friday even as the black box or Flight Data Recorder was recovered on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Police warned of “strict action” against those making offensive comments or spreading rumours on the helicopter crash.

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