Deora expresses grief, rushes aid from MRPL to air crash site

Oil Minister Murli Deora has rushed medical and other assistance from the Mangalore Refinery to help victims of the Air India Express flight that crashed at Mangalore airport this morning.

"I am deeply shocked and grieved at the news of the disaster. My heart goes out to the families of the dead," he said from Mumbai.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemical Ltd (MRPL), a unit of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), has been instructed to assist the state administration in all relief and rescue operations. 

MRPL is not very far from the Mangalore airport and has a good set-up that has now been activated to assist relief and rescue operations at the Mangalore airport.

"I have directed MRPL to give all possible assistance like medical aid and other facilities," he said. "MRPL teams will be working with the state administration in providing relief to the affected and their families."

Offering condolences to the bereaved families, Deora said MRPL has been asked to do whatever it takes to help the victims of the air crash and their families.

As many as 160 passengers and crew members are feared dead after the Air India Express plane from Dubai overshot the runway at the Mangalore airport.