THE Indian Air Force said the lone survivor in last week’s military helicopter crash in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, Group Captain Varun Singh, died today.

A brief statement said the captain died of injuries he suffered this morning, following the helicopter crash on December 8, Xinhua reported.

“Indian Air Force (IAF) is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh… IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family,” the IAF said.

Singh had been initially undergoing treatment at a hospital in Wellington in Tamil Nadu, and later airlifted to a Bengaluru military hospital where he had been put on life support and undergoing treatment for severe burns.

The helicopter crashed at the Coonoor area of Nilgiris district, about 538 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, killing 13 people including India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife.

The IAF has ordered a tri-service enquiry into the crash, and the investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh. – Bernama, December 15, 2021.