President Kovind, PM Modi offer condolences on CDS Bipin Rawat's demise

A military helicopter carrying Indian defence chief General Bipin Rawat crashed near the town of Coonoor in southern India on Wednesday, the Indian Air Force said.

CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 defence personnel died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri district. President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Narendra Modi and others expressed condolences.

In other news, as the world is grappling to tackle the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Anthony Fauci's comments come as some reassurance. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director of US, Dr Fauci said emerging evidence suggests that Omicron has increased infectivity but not a "severe profile".  "A study from South Africa shows that there appears to be an increased propensity for reinfection with Omicron among people who were previously infected with other coronavirus variants, such as Beta and Delta." 

Meanwhile, it remains a politically charged environment in the national capital. The suspension of Rajya Sabha MPs is seeing protests from Opposition and decisions are also likely on Farmers' Protests and their future course of action.

08 December 2021

21:33 IST

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement on the military helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in both the Houses of Parliament tomorrow.   (ANI)

21:32 IST

The bodies would be brought to his house on Friday and people would be allowed to pay last respect from 11 am to 2 pm, followed by a funeral procession which will start from Kamraj Marg to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment.   (ANI)