Erect memorial at helicopter crash site, locals write to PM, CM

UDHAGAMANDALAM: Residents of Wellington Cantonment area, Coonoor, Kattery and Nanjappachathiram have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister M K Stalin to erect a memorial pillar near Nanjappachathiram, where the ill-fated IAF helicopter crashed on December 8 claiming 14 lives, including the chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat.


A letter written to the prime minister on the issue by

R Vinothkumar

, ex-vice president of Wellington Cantonment Board, was signed by around 1,000 people.

“The incident has caused anguish among the local public. The land where the tragedy took place belongs to the Tamil Nadu revenue department. As admiration to the martyred defence officers, we request you to set up a monument in that place in remembrance of their sacrifice,” the letter said.

The letter also requested to rename the Kattery Government Park and the Runnymede railway station on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway after Gen Bipin Rawat.