India with a human face on Tuesday reached out to earthquake-devastated Turkey and Syria. With an open heart, Indian government rushed rescue teams, support and search operators, medical teams and relief materials. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the first Indian Air Force (IAF) plane carrying disaster relief material and rescue team to support search and rescue efforts in Turkey has reached Adana in the earthquake-hit country.
The IAF’s C-17, a strategic transport aircraft left for Turkey earlier on Tuesday “bearing search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The aircraft is part of a larger relief effort that will be undertaken by the IAF along with other Indian organisations, said the Indian Air Force. Two more C-17 IAF planes to Turkey later with 60 Para Field Hospital and personnel to assist in rescue and relief operations. According to defence officials, the Agra-based Army Field Hospital has despatched an 89-member medical team. The medical team comprises critical care specialist teams including Orthopaedic Surgical Team, General Surgical Specialist Team, Medical Specialist Teams apart from other medical teams. The teams are equipped with X-ray machines, ventilators, Oxygen generation plant, Cardiac monitors and associated equipment to establish a 30 bedded medical facility.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi earlier said India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities were put into action.” The 1st batch of earthquake relief material leaves for Turkiye, along with NDRF Search & Rescue Teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines & other necessary equipment,” he tweeted. Under HADR operations for Turkey and Syria, India dispatched the first C17 airborne for Turkey at 03:09 am on Tuesday while the second C17 took off around 10:00 hrs with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team. A 101-member NDRF rescuers, including five women personnel and a four-member canine squad, will help earthquake-hit Turkey from Tuesday, with a 51-member team landing earlier today at Adana Airport of quake-battered country and the second team of another 50-members on way, said NDRF Director General Atul Karwal.
“Two teams of NDRF comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment are ready to be flown to the earthquake-hit area for search and rescue operations,” a statement said. “Medical teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines. Relief material will be dispatched in coordination with the Government of Turkiye and Indian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General office in Istanbul,” it added. Meanwhile, during the day the government of India called an urgent meeting with Indian carriers that operate flights to Turkey, in the aftermath of earthquakes in the western Asian country. During the meeting, India’s low-cost airline IndiGo offered free cargo movement to Istanbul on its scheduled flights. The Indian aviation regulator has held a meeting with Indian carriers over operating flights to Turkey for cargo movements in commercial scheduled flights. IndiGo has offered free cargo movement on its scheduled commercial flights using Boeing 777 aircraft to Istanbul.” an aviation industry source told news agency.