India on Tuesday dispatched the first batch of earthquake relief material comprising an NDRF search and rescue team, dog squads, and medical supplies to earthquake-ravaged Turkey aboard an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft.
The shipment consisted of an expert National Disaster Response Force search and rescue team, including both male and female personnel, highly-skilled dog squads, an array of medical supplies, advanced drilling equipment, and other crucial tools required for the aid efforts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that he was “anguished by the loss of lives and damage of property due to earthquake in Turkey” and instructed officials to offer all possible assistance in coping with the aftermath of the earthquake.
A series of earthquakes of magnitudes 7.8, 7.6 and 6 had devastated parts of southeast Turkey and northern Syria since early Monday, killing more than 4,000 people across the region.
“India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities in action. The 1st batch of earthquake relief material leaves for Turkiye, along with NDRF Search and Rescue Teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipment,” Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.
According to an ANI report, India has sent two NDRF teams to Turkey, comprising 101 NDRF personnel.
“The teams are sent to help in conducting the rescue and relief operations. About 101 NDRF personnel from two teams, one of the team Eight battalion of NDRF from Ghaziabad and the other from second battalion of NDRF from Kolkata will be going for this mission,” Mohsen Shahedi, DIG, Operation and Training NDRF, was quoted saying by news agency ANI.
The Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel expressed his gratitude towards the Indian government’s offer of assistance and said that “a friend in need is indeed a friend”.
