India's top military chief among 13 killed in air force helicopter crash

Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat died along with his wife, Madhulika Rawat, the IAF said via Twitter. He had been in the post for almost two years.

The helicopter, which had a crew of four, crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu state while en route from Sulur to the town of Wellington in Tamil Nadu, the IAF said.

The survivor, Group Capt. Varun Singh, is being treated for his injuries at the Military Hospital in Wellington, the IAF said.

The cause of the crash and details of the other passengers are not yet known.

State broadcaster Doordarshan News and Press Trust of India, a news agency cooperatively owned by Indian newspapers, earlier reported that at least four bodies had been recovered from the crash site.

The IAF said "an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident."

Rawat was appointed India's Chief of Defense Staff in December 2019. Prior to that, he was the Chief of Army Staff.

During a career spanning more than 40 years, Rawat commanded several battalions for the Indian army. He had received several awards for his service. He was first commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1978.

CNN has reached out to the IAF, Indian Army and the Ministry of Defense.

Indian Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari tweeted that he was shocked to hear of the crash, adding: "I pray for everyone's safety, wellbeing."

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