Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI image)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed shock over the deadly school shooting in Canada that claimed 10 lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families.In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Deeply shocked by the horrendous shooting in Canada. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada in this moment of profound grief.” The shooting took place at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), eight people died in and around the school, including a woman believed to be the shooter, who appeared to have died from a self-inflicted injury. Two more people were found dead at a nearby home believed to be connected to the attack, taking the total toll to 10, according to news agency AP. More than 25 people were injured in the incident. Authorities said that police officers reached the school within minutes of receiving reports of an active shooter situation.The suspect has been identified as a female, though her name has not been released. Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the attack and how the victims were connected to the shooter. Police said the early stages of such incidents are often chaotic, with multiple reports that require verification.An emergency alert was issued shortly after 2 pm, asking residents to shelter in place and avoid the area as officers secured the scene. The Tumbler Ridge Health Centre declared a Code Orange, indicating a mass casualty emergency, and restricted access as medical teams responded. Tumbler Ridge is a small community of about 2,700 people in the Canadian Rockies, more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver. The secondary school has around 175 students from Grades 7 to 12. Community leaders described the tragedy as devastating, saying many residents personally knew the victims.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he was “devastated” by the shootings and expressed condolences to the families affected. He also announced the suspension of a planned trip in light of the tragedy. British Columbia Premier David Eby called the incident an “unimaginable tragedy” and urged people across the province to support the grieving community.School shootings are rare in Canada. The attack is being described as the country’s deadliest mass shooting since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 22 people.
