Guwahati: The first shipment of earthquake relief materials has been dispatched from India to tragedy-hit Turkey.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 departed from Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad on Monday night carrying the National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF) search and rescue teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling equipment and other vital supplies.
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.”
According to the IAF, the aircraft is a part of a wider assistance mission that the IAF and other Indian organisations will carry out.
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.”
According to a statement released by the prime minister’s office (PMO) on Monday, a meeting was conducted where it was decided that the NDRF’s search and rescue teams, medical teams, and relief supplies would be sent out right away in collaboration with the Turkish government.
Following Monday’s earthquakes that shook Turkey and Syria, the number of fatalities in both countries has topped 3,500. Following the earthquakes, there have been 15,914 injuries reported in Syria and Turkey combined.
Earthquakes that shook Turkey’s southern region on Monday left at least 2,379 people dead and 14,483 others injured, according to the Anadolu Agency.