BJP condoles loss of lives in Mangalore air crash

NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Mangalore air crash and hoped immediate steps are taken to provide relief to the survivors.

BJP Parliamentary Party Chairman L K Advani, Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley respectively offered condolences to the bereaved families.

In a statement, Jaitley offered "deep condolences" on the grave tragedy on behalf of the party.

"We hope immediate steps are taken to provide relief to the survivors," Jaitley said here.

He said the party leadership was in touch with Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on the ongoing rescue operations at the Mangalore airport.

As many as 160 persons were feared dead when an Air India Express flight from Dubai with 173 on board crashed and caught fire today as it overshot the newly built runway while landing at the Mangalore airport.