Dec 8, Kathmandu- A helicopter carrying Indian Army Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat has crashed in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, India.

It has been reported that Chief of Defense Staff Rawat is alive in the accident. CDS Rawat, his wife, and other senior army officials were in the helicopter. A rescue operation has been launched after the accident. It is said that there were 14 passengers in the helicopter.

News agency ANI has stated that 4 bodies have been recovered from the accident site. Seven injured people have been rescued. The condition of the other three is unknown.

The cause of the accident could not be ascertained after the initial investigation estimated that it could be due to bad weather. The cause will be clarified only after the Army's Cart of Inquiry. About an hour after the accident, General Rawat was reported alive, according to the Indian newspaper 'Dainik Bhaskar'. General Rawat has been taken to a military hospital in Wellington.

No details were given about his condition. Some reports claim that General Rawat was seriously injured.