Political parties grieve deaths in air crash

NEW DELHI - Expressing deep shock, political leaders Saturday condoled the loss of 158 lives in the Air India Express crash in Mangalore.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L.K. Advani and Nitin Gadkari and leaders of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) voiced their sorrow.

“Sonia Gandhi joins the nation in expressing her deep grief and sorrow on the tragic air accident,” said a brief message issued by her office.

BJP president Gadkari said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families.

Advani said the crash “is shocking”. “I have spoken to Karnataka Chief Minister (B.S.) Yeddiyurappa and said his government should concentrate on providing relief to the families of the victims,” Advani said.

The CPI-M said it “is deeply grieved at the loss of lives”. It said a “proper enquiry must be expeditiously conducted to ascertain the cause for the crash and to take remedial measures if necessary”.

The plane was carrying 166 passengers and crew from Dubai but overshot the runway while landing at the Mangalore airport and turned into a ball of fire as it crashed into a forested ravine.