Expressing condolences over the killing of an Indian professor and student in the Virginia Tech shooting rampage, the United States on Wednesday said it was ready to provide all assistance to their families.

In a statement, US Ambassador to India David Mulford noted that scholars and students from India are valued members of its higher education communities.

"We mourn today the loss of so many innocent Americans and others, including Indian-American professor G V Loganathan and Minal Panchal of Mumbai. We offer our deep condolences to their families and the US mission here in India stands ready to assist them," he said.

Observing that tragic events have a capacity to link people around the world, he said, "This tragedy is no different as these murders deeply touch us all with a sense of loss to the world (both) in lives and human potential."

"The American people were shocked by the brutal murders on the Virginia Tech campus on Monday and we have been deeply moved by the expressions of sympathy and support from around the world to this terrible tragedy," he added.