Many hadn’t heard about CDS till Ooty chopper crash but they waited to bid adieu to General Bipin Rawat

COIMBATORE: Emotions ran high among a large number of people who gathered outside the Sulur Air Force Station on Thursday to take a final glimpse of vehicles carrying the mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others, who lost their lives in a chopper near Coonoor on Wednesday.
People of all ages --from children to elderly -- gathered outside the Air Force Station holding a handful of flower petals. Many had skipped their meals as they stayed put for more than one and half hours.
Many have not even heard much about the first Chief of Defence till the day before he met with the accident. They learnt about Bipin Rawat through news on television and newspapers. They could not digest the fact that such a higher officer had to lay his life in this part of the state along with 12 others.
Banners were erected alongside the compound walls of the Air Force Station and other parts of Coimbatore district mourning the untimely death of the general. People gathered in large numbers in other places also including Mettupalayam.
As the ambulances entered the Air Force station, people raised slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Matharam’. People took out their mobile phones and started recording as the vehicles moved inside the campus.
V Saravanan, a resident of Uppilipalayam, said “I had goosebumps when we raised the slogans while watching the vehicles pass by us. I have travelled 20 km to reach here hoping to see him one last time. We saw vehicles carrying the mortal remains. I skipped my meals to see this,” he said.
“The officer strived a lot to put the country ahead of enemy countries. He took the country’s defence staff’s morale to a higher height. He was certainly one of the bold officers the country has witnessed. Sad that he lost his life here,” said Rani Lakshmi, 61, from Ondipudur, as she broke into tears.
Nithya Roseline Arockia Mary from Sungam said she learnt about Bipin Rawat and his achievements only on Wednesday. She felt proud to be part of the crowd to bid adieu to him and other officers.