New Delhi, 9 February: The sixth plane sent with rescue teams and relief material under ‘Operation Dost’, a campaign launched by the Government of India to help earthquake-hit Turkey, reached the devastated areas on Thursday.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted: Rescue teams with equipment, medicines and medical equipment are ready for relief and rescue operations.”
On Wednesday late night, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan flagged off the Indian Air Force’s C17 Globemaster aircraft from the Hindon airbase along with the rescue team and relief material. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the concerned authorities to take necessary steps to help the people affected by the earthquake in Turkey. India has also opened a mobile hospital there. NDRF teams and necessary equipment are also being sent.
On February 6, a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria followed by several earthquakes that caused massive destruction. In both the countries, the death toll due to earthquake has crossed 12,000.
The death toll in earthquake-affected Turkey and Syria has crossed 16,000. The number of deceased is likely to increase with rescue teams from various countries engaged in clearing the debris of thousands of collapsed buildings.
The ground in Turkey has shifted by about three meters, which has changed the flow of rivers. Besides residential and commercial buildings, highways, and runways at airports are also damaged due to the devastating earthquakes. In Turkey 12,873 and in Syria 3,162 deaths have been officially reported. The Twitter network, which was blocked, has been restored in Turkey after 12 hours. The damage has been caused due to the collision of tectonic plates upon which the region is located.
