Coonoor: Thirteen bodies recovered from Mi-17 defence helicopter crash site, which crashed near Coonoor in Niligiri hills region, a total of 14 members on board including Chief Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat.

The defence has yet to make an official statement on the tragic incident, after through proper defence protocol it would make an official statement tomorrow. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh himself will make an official statement in Parliament on Wednesday.

Cabinet affairs meeting on Security headed by the Prime Minister will meet today evening before making an official statement. When Parliament is on, the government can not make an announcement outside the Parliament. 

Earlier Niligiri district administration confirmed that 5 bodies were recovered from the crash site, later it has recovered 13, bodies. Unconfirmed reports say that among 13, police and ground staff has also recovered the body of Madhulika Rawat, but official confirmation has yet to be received by the Tamil Nadu district administration.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has rushed to the crash site. He has sent a special medical team to Coonoor and instructed Niligiri district officials to provide all necessary assistance to defence to rescue operation.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, President Ramnath Kovind has cancelled all his official engagements scheduled in Mumbai and returned to the Capital. Among rescued one person has taken to Wellington military hospital for treatment.  

The helicopter has crashed just 15 minutes before its scheduled landing in Wellington defence staff college. Mr. Rawat is heading to Wellington to deliver the lecture. Niligiri district collector has confirmed that the search operation is over after recovering 13 bodies.