Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter crash crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8, passed away. He was undergoing treatment at a military hospital in Bengaluru and succumbed to severe burn injuries on Wednesday morning. "IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family," the IAF said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter handle to condole the demise of Group Captain Varun Singh. "Group Captain Varun Singh served the nation with pride, valor and utmost professionalism. I am extremely anguished by his passing away. His rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti," he tweeted.

General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others were killed when the chopper crashed on its way to Wellington from the Sulur Air Force Base in Coimbatore. General Rawat was on his way to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course. The Mi17 V5 helicopter took off from Sulur Air Base at 11:48 am and was expected to land at Wellington by 12:15 pm. But the chopper went off the radar around 12.08 pm. The only survivor was Group Captain Varun Singh, who was getting treated for severe burns at the military hospital in Wellington.