New Delhi/IBNS: India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded after Yemen president Rashad al-Alimi approved the death sentence for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is imprisoned for killing a Yemeni national, media reports said.

Nimisha, who is from Kerala, has been serving a prison sentence since 2017 for killing Talal Abdo Mahdi.

Reacting to the death sentence, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal said, "We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options.

"The government is extending all possible help in the matter."

In 2018, Nimisha was sentenced to death by a trial court in Yemen.

Her family was fighting for her release since then and approached Yemen's Supreme Court against the trial court order.

The Supreme Court had rejected the appeal in 2023.

Nimisha's mother Prema Kumari reached Yemen earlier this year and has been staying in the capital city of Sana's trying to explore options to waive her daughter's death sentence.