Delhi gang-rape: Body likely to be flown back tonight

The body of the Delhi gang-rape victim, who died on Saturday morning, will be flown to India by a special chartered aircraft. An Air India Airbus A 319 took off from Palam Airport at 8am with four government officials, pilot and cabin crew.

The body may arrive late in the evening or night depending on clearances from Singapore authorities.

Earlier today, Indian High Commissioner T.C.A. Raghavan today said that the body of the Delhi gang-rape victim and her family members will depart Singapore in the afternoon. Raghavan said after her death that the family had expressed a desire for her body to be flown back to India.

He said: "The requisite formalities for sending the body to India have been completed. The deceased and the family members will be flown back to India in a chartered aircraft. I can tell you that the family have yet to decide on what they are going to do in terms of the next steps. You must understand that they have suffered a great trauma and it has been a very trying and difficult time for them and since we do have the advantage of a few hours, we are letting them make up their minds without any urgency being added to it.