IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, lone survivor in Mi-17V5 chopper crash.
Highlights
- IAF Group Captain Varun Singh is the lone survivor in the Mi-17V5 chopper crash
- Rajnath Singh said efforts are being made to save the IAF officer
- Group Captain Varun Singh is the recipient of the Shaurya Chakra gallantry award
Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the chopper crash incident in Tamil Nadu, is currently on the life support system at a hospital in Wellington, Defence Minister Rjnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha. He said that all efforts are being made to save him.
Group Captain Varun Singh was in IAF's Mi-17 chopper along with CDS General Bipin Rawat and others when it crashed. Reports say that Group Captain Varun Singh suffered more than 60 per cent burn injuries in the mishap.
"Group Captain Varun Singh is on life support in Military Hospital, Wellington. All efforts are being made to save his life," the Defence Minister said.
According to sources, news agency ANI reported, Group Captain Varun Singh’s health condition is critical but stable. He is under watch and if required, he can be shifted from the Military Hospital, Wellington to the Command Hospital, Bangalore.
Group Captain Varun Singh, also the Shaurya Chakra awardee, had won the gallantry award for showing courage by handling his Tejas fighter jet after it faced a major technical issue during his sortie in October 2020. He successfully landed the Tejas aircraft despite losing control of the fighter jet due to multiple technical failures.
Earlier on Wednesday, IAF's M17 helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Ooty leading to the loss of lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 other armed personnel.
READ MORE: RIP CDS General Bipin Rawat: The man who was born to serve the Indian Army
