IAF chopper crash: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh apprised of probe team's findings
New Delhi, Jan 5: The Indian Air Force on Wednesday apprised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the findings of the tri-services investigation into the December 8 chopper crash that killed CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others, people familiar with the development said.
The probe team has already completed its investigation into the crash of the Russian-origin Mi-17V5 helicopter, they said.
Earlier, sources suggested that the crash was not a result of any technical error in the helicopter of the Indian Air Force. However, there is no official confirmation on it.
The Court of Inquiry into the crash was headed by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.
Gen Rawat's wife Madhulika, his defence advisor Brigadier LS Lidder, staff officer to the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Col Harjinder Singh and decorated pilot Group Captain Varun Singh were among 13 others killed in the crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
It is learnt that the probe team examined all likely scenarios for the crash, including possible human error or whether it was a case of disorientation of crew when the helicopter was preparing for landing.
Air Marshal Singh, currently heading the Bengaluru-headquartered Training Command of the IAF, is known to be one of the best air crash investigators in the country.
Before taking the reins of the Training Command, the Air Marshal was the Director General (Inspection and Safety) at the Air headquarters and developed various protocols for flight safety while serving in the post.
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Don't want to make it political but administration made lapses: Rahul Gandhi on Hathras stampede
Hathras (UP) (PTI): Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday said there were lapses on the part of the administration in the Hathras stampede incident that killed over 100 people, but added that he did not want to make it "political".
Speaking to reporters after meeting the victims of the stampede in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras here on Friday morning, Gandhi said, "It is a matter of grief that so many families have suffered, so many people lost their lives."
"I don't want to speak from a political prism but there have been some lapses on the part of the administration," the senior Congress leader said.
On Friday morning, he met the family members of those who died in the stampede in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras.
Gandhi left from Delhi early morning on Friday by road for Hathras and was accompanied by state Congress chief Ajay Rai, state Congress in-charge Avinash Pande, party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and other office bearers.
Gandhi reached Vibhav Nagar colony's Green Park in Hathras around 9 am.
Gandhi was accompanied by UP Congress chief Rai and local district president Chandragupta Vikramaditya during his interaction with the families inside the park.
A total of 121 people, mostly women, died in a stampede at self-styled godman Baba Bhole's satsang in Hathras on Tuesday.
