India's top defence official General Bipin Rawat and 12 others, including his wife, died in a fatal chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Group Captain Varun Singh is the sole survivor of this crash, and he is battling for his life in hospital. The Mi-17V5 military chopper that crashed is the latest model of Russian transport helicopters, and one of the most powerful choppers used by the Indian defence forces.
