India to send 2 more IAF planes, rescue personnel, relief material to Turkey

New Delhi, February 7: Extending aid to quake-hit Turkey, India is all set to send two more C-17 Indian Air Force planes to Turkey later this evening 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.

Also Read: Turkey earthquake: Turkey Govt declares 7-day national mourning

The medical team comprises critical care specialist teams including Orthopaedic Surgical Team, General Surgical Specialist Team, and 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.

Meanwhile, earlier today the first batch of aid  from India, which took off from the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad early this morning reached Adana in Turkey.

The Indian Air Force tweeted on Tuesday that a C-17, a strategic transport aircraft, left for Turkey "bearing search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)."

According to 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.

 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.

Notably, the death toll in Turkey and Syria has reached more than 4,900 after earthquakes jolted the two nations on Monday.    

Turkey was hit by 5 consecutive devastating earthquakes. 

In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences with the Prime Minister's Office saying that a meeting was held on Monday in which it was decided that "relief material would be dispatched immediately" in coordination with the Turkish government.

"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," the 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.

Also Read | Turkey earthquake: PM Modi expresses anguish over loss of life in Turkey

Notably, the aftershocks stretch for more than 300 kilometres (186 miles) along the fault zone that ruptured in southern Turkey, oriented from southwest to northeast and stretching from the border with Syria up through the province of Malatya.