India ready to offer all support: PM Modi to Papua New Guinea amid increasing landslide deaths

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is ready to offer all possible support and assistance to Papua New Guinea where over 2,000 people are reported to have been buried alive in a massive landslide.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister also expressed deep sadness at the loss of lives and damage caused by the devastating landslide in the South Pacific Ocean island nation.

“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage caused by the devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea. Our heartfelt condolences to the affected families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. India is ready to offer all possible support and assistance,” he said.

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Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage caused by the devastating landslide in Papua New Guinea. Our heartfelt condolences to the affected families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. India is ready to offer all possible support and assistance.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2024 >

The acting director of Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Center, Luseta Laso Mana, has told the United Nations that more than 2,000 people are believed to have been buried alive by last Friday's landslide and has formally asked for international help.

The government figure is triple the UN estimate of 670 killed by the landslide in the South Pacific island nation's mountainous interior. The remains of only five people had been recovered by Monday.

In a letter to the United Nations on Sunday, Luseta Laso Mana, said the landslide "buried more than 2,000 people alive" and caused "major destruction" in Yambali village in Enga province.

On Monday, EAM S Jaishankar had expressed condolences over the deaths in Papua New Guinea and said that India stands in solidarity with the government and people of the island nation in this difficult time.