Kathmandu, July 9:

Indian Embassy today condoled the death of Kabul-based Indian embassy staffers killed in a terrorist blast on Monday.

Press Councillor Venkateswara Rao, who had served in Kathmandu before being deputed to Kabul, Brig Ravi Datta Mehata, Sri Roop Singh and Ajay Singh Pathania were among those killed in the blast.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood paid tributes to the deceased.

“I deeply mourn the loss of Venkateswara, Ravi Datta and other staff of the embassy. We lost one of the brightest staff of 1990 batch of foreign service,” ambassador Sood, who has worked with Rao while serving in Afghanistan, said. Sood was stationed in Afghanistan before being assigned with the ambassadorial duty in Nepal.

“India and Afghanistan will continue to work together for the peace in Afghanistan. Nothing, no acts of terror can deter us,” Sood said. Journalists Shirish Ballav Pradhan, Ramashis and ex-mayor of Bhadrapur municipality Bhartendu Mallik said Rao was a well wisher of Nepal and would be missed. Well wishers paid homage to the deceased and signed the condolence book which will be open tomorrow as well.