Turkish envoy thanks 'dost' India for sending relief aid

On Tuesday, India dispatched the first batch of humanitarian aid along with a rescue team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Turkey

“Dost kara günde belli olur (A friend in need is a friend indeed)”, Ankara’s envoy to New Delhi, Firat Sunel, took to Twitter to express his gratitude as India on Tuesday sent search and rescue teams, medics and paramedics as well as food, medicines and other essentials onboard four aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to quake-hit Türkiye.

India on Tuesday also sent another aircraft carrying a consignment of humanitarian assistance to Syria, which was also hit hard by the devastating earthquake.

The teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) – comprising altogether 101 personnel led by Commandant Gurminder Singh – flew onboard the C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to Adana in Türkiye, where nearly 5,000 people were killed by two devastating earthquakes early on Monday. They had with them specially trained dog squads and other necessary equipment to look for survivors.

"The teams are self-contained in all respects and are equipped with all the necessary state-of-the art search and rescue, and personal safety equipment. The NDRF team will assist the local authorities of the Türkiye in relief and rescue operations,” according to the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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The Indian Army has mobilised a Field Hospital to provide medical support to the affected people in the region. The Army Field Hospital based in Agra in Uttar Pradesh despatched an 89-member-medical team, comprising critical care specialists including orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons and medical specialists. The teams are equipped with X-ray machines, ventilators, oxygen generation plant, cardiac monitors and associated equipment to establish a 30-bedded medical facility in the quake-hit areas of Türkiye.

The IAF aircraft avoided the airspace of Pakistan and took a circuitous way to Türkiye.

New Delhi’s relations came under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government in Ankara has often taken a stand against New Delhi, and joined Islamabad to slam India on the issue of its dispute with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in New Delhi, however, quickly responded after the earthquake in Türkiye.