India’s military chief, 12 others killed in helicopter crash

By SHEIKH SAALIQ and ASHOK SHARMA
Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s air force says the country’s military chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others were killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash in southern Tamil Nadu state. It said in a tweet that the helicopter “met with a tragic accident.” It said one air force officer, Group Capt. Varun Singh, survived and is being treated in a military hospital. The air force says the Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopter was on its way from an air force base to the army defense services college when it crashed near a hill station. The reason for the crash was not immediately known. Rawat was the most senior official in the Indian military and was tasked with modernizing it and improving coordination among its three services.