KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 28): Due to issues with documentation, tonnes of relief items from Malaysia for flood victims in India remained unclaimed at the Tiruchy International Airport for the last three days, The New Indian Express reported.

Customs authorities in Tamil Nadu state have refused to release the cargo that was sent via Malindo Air as the sender had allegedly failed to provide valid documents to show the consignment was meant to help the thousands of flood victims in the state.

It was reported that a Malaysian NGO, People’s Trust, had collected about 1.5 tonnes of items, including rice, milk powder and napkins, to help flood victims in Cuddalore.

The cargo had arrived at the airport on Friday, accompanied by a coordinator of the trust.

“The passenger who arrived here did not authorise any person or organisation to receive the cargo at the airport. He cannot distribute the entire relief material all alone,” airport authorities were quoted as saying.

The customs officials also told the daily that as the man who had accompanied the cargo had not produced the claimant's name with proper documentation, the cargo could not be cleared without levying duty fee.

However, the man, said to be Malaysian, denied lacking the documentation that showed the items were meant as relief items for the flood victims.

“Though I had the required documents claiming that the things are relief materials, Customs officials were not willing to clear them,” he told the newspaper.