UN Consultant Among 4 Indians Killed in Ethiopia Plane Crash
Shikha Garg, a UNDP consultant with Environment Ministry, was on her way to attend a UNEP meeting in Nairobi.
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Shikha Garg, a UN consultant attached with the Environment Ministry, was among the four Indians who was killed in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on Sunday, 10 March.
The Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 crashed minutes after an early-morning takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all eight crew and 149 passengers on board.
Garg, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) consultant, was on her way to attend a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) meeting in Nairobi.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter on Sunday, asking for “help” to get in touch with Garg’s family. “I have tried her husband’s number many times. Please help me reach her family.”
The Indian Embassy in Ethiopia has identified the other deceased Indian nationals as Pannagesh Bhaskar Vaidya, Hansini Pannagesh Vaidya and Nukavarapu Manisha
“I am sorry to know about the unfortunate crash of Ethiopian Airlines plane ET 302. 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 confirmed on Sunday.
Condoling the deaths, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter: “Anguished by the loss of lives due to the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.”
No Survivors on Board Ethiopian Airlines
People from 35 countries were reportedly on board flight ET 302 when it ploughed into a field 60 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Airlines said the plane had taken off at 8:38 am (0538 GMT) on Sunday from Bole International Airport and "lost contact" six minutes later.
It came down near Tulu Fara village outside the town of Bishoftu.
The carrier, which changed its logo on Twitter to black and white from its trademark green, yellow, and red, said "there are no survivors.”
Ethiopian Airlines said Kenya had the largest number of casualties (32), followed by Canada (18), Ethiopia (9), Italy, China, and the United States with eight each, reports said.
Britain and France each had seven people on board, Egypt six, and Germany five. Citizens of twelve African and 14 European countries were among the victims.
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