Indian athletes stranded in Turkey appeal to Centre for help

Eleven athletes from Tamil Nadu stranded in Turkey, which is facing a political crisis as a coup from a section of military personnel clashed with government forces, appealed on Saturday to the Centre to safely evacuate them to Delhi.

The students from Tamil Nadu are a part of over 200 players representing India in School World Sports Championship in Trabzon which has been scheduled from 11th of July till 18th July.

In a video message, the girls said that the situation in Trabzon is far better off than the rest of Turkey and appealed to the Centre for help.

'This morning we received a phone call from our parents saying that bomb blast took place in Ankara but there are no problems in Trabzon, our competition is scheduled to last till 18th, but it is uncertain whether the event will continue for the rest of the two days and we have not received any information about the event, said Tamil Selvi, one of the students stranded in Trabzon.

"On 18th we will be travelling From Trabzon to Ankara, then from Ankara to Istanbul and then from Istanbul to Delhi. Hence, we appeal to the Central government help us safely reach Delhi," she added.

Earlier today, Coup D'etat launched by a faction of the Turkish military broke out leaving 60 people dead and over 120 injured during the coup.

The United Nations has said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern with the fast-moving developments in Turkey and has appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint.

Meanwhile, India has called upon all sides to support democracy and mandate of the ballot, and avoid bloodshed.

Turkey has a history of coups with governments ousted on three occasions in the last decades by full military coups. Meanwhile, India has called upon all sides to support democracy and mandate of the ballot, and avoid bloodshed.

Turkey has a history of coups with governments ousted on three occasions in the last decades by full military coups.