His Majesty The King and His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo offered prayers and Karmi Tongchoed at the Kuenrey of the Tashichhoedzong for General Bipin Rawat, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 armed force personnel who lost their lives in a helicopter accident yesterday.
His Majesty The King and His Majesty the Fourth DrukGyalpo have sent messages of condolence for the bereaved families, and the government and people of India.
The Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Chief Operations Officer of the RBA and senior officers of the Armed Forces, along with the Indian Ambassador, the heads of IMTRAT and DANTAK, and representatives of the Indian community in Bhutan, joined the ceremony to offer a thousand butter lamps.
General Bipin Rawat, who visited Bhutan several times during his career, will be remembered as a friend by the people of Bhutan. Tributes have poured in from around the world.
The General will be cremated with full military honours on Friday. General Rawat was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in 2019.