Stepping up its assistance to quake-hit China, India is sending three fresh planeloads of supplies including medicines, tents and temporary shelters to the affected Sichuan Province, the Press Trust of India reported Tuesday.

With the quake casualties mounting to over 40,000, Indian officials said Tuesday three giant IL-76 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) would be flying to Chengdu in the next three days with 200 tons of relief supplies.

An IL-76 aircraft would take off from Kanpur, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, and the other two on Thursday and Friday carrying tents and medicines, IAF officials said.

India provided US$5 million worth of relief materials to China last Friday, according to the Chinese Embassy in India.

"We may send more assistance, if there is request from the Chinese authorities," Indian officials said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2008)