Turkey coup: 148 stranded Indian athletes safe, says Sushma Swaraj

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said all the 148 Indian children and 38 officials who were in Turkey for World School Sports Championship are safe. Turkey is in crisis after military attempted coup on late Friday.

There are 148 Indian children and 38 officials in Trapzon #Turkey. They are all safe. /1 https://t.co/WiykZXnL1M

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 16, 2016

The games are on. They will start returning in batches from 18th July. /2 #Turkey

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 16, 2016

As per reports, the children and officials are put up in the games village located in Trabzon and no issues have been reported from that area.

All the students have been asked to stay within the games village until the conclusion of the event on July 18 and not to venture out.

Through a video, around 11 students from Tamil Nadu have appealed to the Indian government to pull them out of the region in case the situations gets worse.

Earlier, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel had confirmed that all the athletes are in a safe area away from the turmoil.

"I have contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and India's Ambassador to Turkey and they have confirmed that the athletes participating in the world games in Trabzon area of Turkey are safe," Goel said.

Have spoken with Indian Ambass. to Turkey Mr Kulshreshth regarding safety of 149 Indian athletes participating in the world school games1/2

— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) July 16, 2016