Indian army chopper carrying top Defence officials including CDS Rawat crashes in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris, casualties reported

According to sources in the Indian Army, 14 people, including Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Major General Bipin Rawat and his family members, were on board the Mi-series (Mi-17V5) chopper that crashed in Nilgiris.

UPDATE AT 330 PM:  11 of the 14 people on board the IAF chopper crashed in Nilgiris have died, according to local sources. Three rescued from the crashed helicopter and shifted to hospital in Wellington. No official confirmation have received yet either on the casualty/fatality figure or the condition of Bipin Rawat. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has briefed PM Modi on Rawat's helicopter crash. Rajnath Singh to brief the parliament on chopper crash shortly before leaving for the accident site in Tamil Nadu: Reports.

Local authorities confirmed four bodies have been recovered from the crash site, without disclosing their identities.

Few others have been rescued from the crashed copter and shifted to nearby medical facilities.

Confirming the crash, Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted: "An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu."

"An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF wrote on Twitter.

Besides rescue workers, senior police and military officials have reached the scene and rescue operations are currently underway.

Government sources in Delhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh have been briefed about the accident.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted, "Distressed to hear the news of an Army helicopter crash carrying CDS General Shri Bipin Rawat Ji and other senior Army officials. Praying for their safety & well-being."