MH17: PM Modi writes to Netherlands PM

" The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has written to the Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte, expressing his condolences on the loss of lives on board MH17," Prime Minister's Office (PMO) statement.

Modi wrote that the people of India share the sorrow and stand in mourning with the bereaved families and the Dutch people.

"The Prime Minister wrote that he hopes the circumstances of the disaster are established quickly and that such tragedies are prevented," read the PMO statement.

Modi on Friday condoled the death of 298 people on board a Malaysian Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was downed by suspected Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.

"Our thoughts & prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives on board Flight MH17," tweeted PM Modi.

The Malaysian plane MH17 with 295 people on board which crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday  was shot down with a a surface-to-air missile, reports emerging out from the global community said now, amid a clamour for a full international investigation by various countries.

The flight was on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when in crashed in a ball of fire with the global community fearing that it was shot down by Russian-backed rebels in the conflict zone between the ultras and the government of Ukraine.

The plane crashed near Hrabove village near Ukraine's border with Russia near the regional capital of Donetsk. The area is witnessing rebel groups backed by Russia fighting the Ukraine government forces.