India Dispatches First Consignment of Relief Materials to Quake-Hit Turkey
The first consignment of earthquake relief materials has been dispatched from India to tragedy-hit Turkey.
On Monday night, an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 departed from the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad with search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipments.
Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted, “India's Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilites in action. The 1st batch of earthquake relief material leaves for Türkiye, along with NDRF Search & Rescue Teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines & other necessary equipment.”
The IAF stated that the aircraft is part of a larger relief effort that will be undertaken by the IAF along with other Indian organisations.
Speaking to ANI, Deepak Talwar, Deputy Commandant, NDRF, who is leading the first team from India to Turkey, said, "This team is consisting of 47 NDRF personnel and three senior officers to perform recovery and response work as per the United Nations guidelines."
The prime minister's office (PMO) in a statement on Monday said that a meeting was held and it was decided that the search and rescue teams of NDRF and medical teams along with relief materials would be dispatched immediately in coordination with the Turkish government.
The death toll in Turkey and Syria has surpassed 3,500 after earthquakes jolted the two nations on Monday. The total number of injured in Syria and Turkey has reached 15,914 following the earthquakes.
At least 2,379 people were killed and 14,483 others injured in Turkey after earthquakes jolted the southern part of the country on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.
