Who Is Geetika Lidder? Brigadier LS Lidder's Wife And Daughter Bids Farewell

Who Is Geetika Lidder? The sorrowful family members of several army families biding adieu to their heroes has been a sight we have all witnessed in the past few days since the tragic helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri Hills. The crash claimed the lives of over 10 people including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, Madhulika Rawat.

Gitika Lidder is the wife of Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh Lidder's wife. She told ANI today, "We must give him a good farewell, a smiling send-off, I am a soldier's wife. It's a big loss." Geetika  Lidder was seen in tears kneeling by the head of her husband's coffin draped with the tricolour and decked with flowers at Delhi's Brar Square Crematorium.

The 52-year-old Brigadier is survived by his wife and 17-year old daughter, Aashna Lidder. The daughter was seen standing next to her mother fighting her tears.

“I am going to be 17. So he was with me for 17 years, we will go ahead with happy memories… It's a national loss. My father was a hero, my best friend. Maybe it was destined and better things will come our way. He was my biggest motivator,” Aashna Lidder said.

India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat also passed away in the same unfortunate Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper accident. His wife Madhulika Rawat along with 11 others were also killed. The IAF had earlier tweeted,  “With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident.”

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Their bodies were brought to Delhi in a military aircraft. Gen Rawat and his wife's bodies will be kept at their 3 Kamaraj Marg residence to allow the general public to pay their tributes. Their funeral is scheduled for 4pm today. The couple is survived by two daughters. Kritika Rawat and Tarini Rawat.

Group Captain Varun Singh is the sole survivor of the crash and is being treated in a defence hospital in Bengaluru. The central government has ordered a 'tri service' inquiry into the tragic accident.