Black box recovered : The flight data recorder (FDR), commonly known as black box, of the ill-fated Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter that crashed at Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday leading to the death of chief of defence staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, has been retrieved by defence officials. 

The black box was recovered from near the wreckage of the crashed helicopter. 

Recovery of the black box would ascertain the exact reason of the crash that led to the demise of 13 military officials including CDS Bipin Rawat. 

The black box would be sent to New Delhi or Bengaluru for analysis. 

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Meanwhile, mortal remains of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other security personnel would arrive at Delhi on Thursday evening. 

PM Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval are expected to pay tribute to the mortal remains of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other personnel at the Palam airbase. 

All 13 bodies are being brought in an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft from Sulur to Delhi. 

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has stated that severity of the crash led to difficulty in positive identification of mortal remains.  

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“All possible measures are being taken for positive identification considering the sensitivities and emotional well-being of the loved ones,” the Indian Army informed. 

Four bodies, including that of General Rawat, his wife and Brigadier LS Lidder have been positively identified. 

“The mortal remains will be released to the next of kin only after positive identification,” the Army said. 

It added: “Appropriate military rites of all personnel will be ensured in consultation with close relatives once the process of positive identification is completed.”