India sending plane with blankets to Japan

India is sending the first plane-load of blankets today to extend all possible help immediately to Japan, reeling under the devastation caused by the massive earthquake and Tsunami.

“India is sending blankets for the people of Sendai and others affected by Japan quake. First plane load is being readied,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao tweeted.

“Discussed this with Jap (Japanese) Amb (Ambassador) in Delhi and we felt this was the most useful and needed item, given the cold weather conditions in the affected areas,” she said. The external affairs ministry’s officials said the governments of Haryana and Punjab are also helping in procuring a large quantity of woolen blankets. Japan was hit by one of the worst-ever earthquake causing giant tsunami waves on Friday and according to some media estimates, the death toll is between 1,300 and 1,700, and could rise sharply. In the port town of Minamisanriku, nearly 10,000 people were unaccounted for, according to public broadcaster NHK.