Four Indians were killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday that left all 157 people on board dead, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday.
“I am sorry to know about the unfortunate crash of Ethiopian Airlines plane ET 302,” she tweeted. “We have lost four Indian nationals in the air crash. I have asked Indian High Commissioner in Ethiopia to provide all help and assistance to the bereaved families.”
Swaraj added that the Indian embassy in Ethiopia has informed her that the deceased are Vaidya Pannagesh Bhaskar, Vaidya Hansin Annagesh, Nukavarapu Manisha and Shikha Garg. Garg was a consultant with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the external affairs minister said, quoting Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. Garg was on her way to a meeting of United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi.
“I am trying to reach the families of other Indian nationals,” Swaraj said. “Please retweet and help.”
“I am trying to reach the family of Shikha Garg,” she said on Monday. “I have tried her husband’s number many times. Please help me reach her family.” Swaraj also retweeted the Indian Embassy in Ethiopia, which said it has contacted Vaidya Bhaskar’s son in Toronto and assured him of all assistance.
Swaraj also said she had asked Rahul Chhabra, Indian High Commissioner in Nairobi, to provide all assistance necessary to the family of N Manisha.
Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered his condolences to the deceased. “I have been saddened by the news of the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash,” Gandhi said in a Facebook post. “Among the deceased are Indians too. In this time of grief, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”
The Boeing 737 aircraft of the Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after departing from Addis Ababa airport on Sunday morning. The aircraft had 149 passengers and eight crew members.
The aircraft had taken off from the Ethiopian capital at 8.38 am local time (11.08 am Indian time), but lost contact at 8.44 am near Bishoftu, 60 km southeast of Addis Ababa. The flight was going to Nairobi in Kenya. There were people of 33 nationalities on board.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!