Who was CDS General Bipin Rawat's wife Madhulika? All we know about the DWWA president

India's Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat succumbed to injuries on Wednesday after an Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopter carrying 14 people crashed in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor. Sixty-three-year-old Rawat along with his wife and his staff were travelling to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to deliver a lecture at 2:45 pm. A total of 14 persons were on board the Mi-17 V5 helicopter, of which 13 died. Group Captain Varun Singh SC survived the crash.

Who was CDS General Bipin Rawat's wife?

Madhulika Rawat was the President of Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA), a social worker and wife of CDS General Bipin Rawat. DWWA is one of the largest non-profit organistaions in India. Madhulika Rawat had been a part of several welfare programmes and campaigns that provide help to the Veer Naris (Army widows).  Madhulika Rawat completed her primary education in Delhi and her graduation in psychology from Delhi University. As per reports, other than DWWA, she had also been offering help to cancer victims and differently-abled children. 

IAF helicopter crash

The people onboard the IAF helicopter were CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, Defence Assistant to CDS Brigadier LS Lidder, SO to CDS Lt. Col. Harjinder Singh, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar, Lance Naik B Sai Teja and Havaldar Satpal. The accident occurred between Coimbatore and Sulur at about 12.30 pm, sources said. 

It is learnt that the Chief of Defence Staff was travelling to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington for a lecture which was scheduled to be held at 2.45 pm. The situation is being monitored by the Director-General of Military Operations as well as Army Chief MM Naravane. Sources have hinted that poor weather led to the accident.

Here's all that we know about the Chopper crash so far:

• CDS leaves from Delhi at 9 am
• CDS lands in Sulur at 11:35 am
• CDS General Rawat was en route to give a lecture at Defence Staff College in Wellington
• CDS and his wife were onboard the IAF chopper at 11:45 am
• Other senior officers were onboard as well
• CDS's lecture was due at 2.45 pm
• Chopper was minutes away from landing site 
• Communication snapped minutes before the crash
• IAF chopper crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu at 12.20 pm
• The Tamil Nadu government sent senior officials to the crash site
• IAF ordered inquiry into the cause of accident
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Chopper Crash
• Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin rushed to Coonoor
• IAF Chief Air Marshal VR Chaudhri is on his way to the crash site
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reaches Bipin Rawat's residence in New Delhi
• 13 out of 14 onboard declared dead
• CDS being treated at military hospital in Wellington
• CDS Gen Rawat confirmed dead in chopper crash, confirms IAF