Warsaw/New Delhi, April 16: Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna has cancelled his trip to Poland to attend the funeral of president Lech Kaczynski because of poor flying conditions in Europe, officials said Friday.
Krishna was to leave New Delhi Saturday and represent India at Sunday’s funeral. But the visit was called off because of major disruptions to air traffic on account volcanic ash clouding the skies over Europe.
All flights from Poland have been cancelled since Friday morning.
India’s ambassador in Warsaw will represent New Delhi at the funeral.
But reports from Warsaw say the funeral itself might get postponed. Kaczynski and scores of Polish military and political leaders were killed in an air crash in Russia April 10.
Reports also suggest that Kaczynski’s family is keen that funeral be held on Sunday itself.
Many dignitaries like US President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are slated to attend the funeral.
–Agencies