Chopper crash: PM says death of Gen Bipin Rawat loss to nation, prays for early recovery of Group Captain Varun Singh

NEW DELHI: "The demise of India's first CDS General Bipin Rawat is a great loss for every patriot," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he paid tribute to the former Army chief and others who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the inaugural event for the Saryu Nahar National Project in Uttar Pradesh.
PM Modi said that Gen Rawat was brave and worked hard to make the country's armed forces self-reliant and the nation is a witness to that.
"Wherever General Bipin Rawat maybe, in the days to come, he will see India moving ahead with new resolutions," the PM said.

Expressing condolences to all the "brave warriors" who died in the fatal crash, PM Modi said that even in misery, "India will neither stop its pace nor its progress".
"India is mourning but despite being in pain, neither do we stop our pace nor our development. India won't stop. India won't be at a standstill. Together, we Indians will work hard and face every challenge inside and outside the country," he said.
PM Modi said that the entire nation is praying for the recovery of Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor in the crash who is being treated at the Air Force Command hospital in Bengaluru.
"Doctors are working hard to save the life of Group Captain Varun Singh. I pray to Maa Pateshwari to save his life. The nations stands with his family. The country also stands with the families who lost those brave soldiers," PM Modi said.
General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other defence personnel were killed when a MI 17-V5 helicopter carrying them crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday last week.
Other 10 defence forces personnel who died in the chopper crash are Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh, Junior Warrant Officer Rana Pratap Das, Junior Warrant Officer Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja.
The Centre has ordered a 'tri service' inquiry into the accident. The inquiry will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command.
(With inputs from agencies)
Watch Demise of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat is a loss to every patriot: PM Modi