CDS General Bipin Rawat, wife Madhulika cremated with full military honours

Daughters and son-in-law of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who died in helicopter crash in Coonoor, during the cremation of their parents, in New Delhi on Friday. Pic/ ANI

The funeral procession of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and his wife Dr Madhulika Rawat has left from their residence to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi cantonment area on Friday afternoon.

The mortal remains of late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 12 others - including his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel - who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor on Wednesday reached Delhi on Thursday evening.

Political leader across party lines paid tributes to the late general and his wife today at their residence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and service chiefs had paid tributes in Delhi yesterday.

The cremation of General Bipin Rawat and the other victims of the chopper crash will be held in the Delhi Cantonment area today.

UPDATES:

• CDS General Bipin Rawat, wife Madhulika cremated with full military honours. Last rites were performed by daughters. A 17-gun salute was also given to the deceased general.

• Kritika and Tarini, daughters of CDS General Bipin Rawat and Madhulika, pay last respects to their parents.

• UP CM Adityanath announced that Rs 50 lakh will be provided to the kin of Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan, who died in the helicopter crash and an institution in the state will also be named after him.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute to late General Bipin Rawat and wife Madhulika at Brar Square crematorium.

• Defence Attaches of different nations pay tribute to late CDS General Bipin Rawat.

• The mortal remains of the Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika being brought to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi's Cantonment area.
• "We must give him a good farewell, a smiling send-off. I am a soldier's wife. It's a big loss," said Brigadier LS Lidder's wife, Geetika. "If it was not meant to be... I don't know. But my child will miss him. He was a very good father," she added.

Aashna Lidder, the late brigadier's daughter, said, "I am going to be 17. So he was with me for 17 years... we will go ahead with happy memories. It's a national loss. My father was a hero, my best friend. Maybe it was destined and better things will come our way. He was my biggest motivator." The brigadier was among the 13 who died in the helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor.

• "I wanted to pay tribute & to come in person for that ceremony as we remember him as a great military leader, emphatic, warm, determined & great friend," said Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France.

• "Bipin Rawat was somebody who invested a lot in improving the links between the UK & India in the area of defence. It's a great loss," said Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner.

• The funeral procession of CDS General Bipin Rawat leaves from his residence to Brar Square crematorium in Delhi Cantonment. Military commanders of Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh to attend last rites.

• Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and religious leader pay tributes to CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and his wife Dr Madhulika Rawat.

• Daughters of CDS Gen Rawat and Madhulika Rawat pay last respects to their parents.

• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pays his last respects to CDS Gen Rawat and Dr Madhulika Rawat.

• CDS Gen Bipin Rawat's unit 5/11 Gorkha Rifles looking after all the arrangements at his last rites.

• Brigadier LS Lidder laid to final rest with full millitary honours.

• Home Minister Amit Shah pays his tribute to the victims of the chopper crash.

• Mortal remains of Gen Bipin Rawat and wife brough to their Delhi residence.

• Wife and daughter of Brigadier LS Lidder pay their last respects to him at Brar Square, Delhi Cantt.