IAF plane with rescue personnel lands in earthquake-hit Turkey, second plane with relief on way

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a tweet said that the first IAF plane with more than 50 NDRF personnel and special dog squads to help in rescue efforts and drilling machines among other material had landed in Adana in Turkey, where a devastating quake has claimed around 2,000 lives and caused much damage.

“First Indian C17 flight with more than 50 @NDRFHQ Search & Rescue personnel, specially trained dog squads,drilling machines, relief material, medicines and other necessary utilities & equipment reaches Adana, Turkey.“Second plane getting ready for departure. India expresses its solidarity at this challenging moment,” he posted

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet, said: “Second @IAF_MCC C-17 with self-contained @NDRFHQ teams including dog squads, search & rescue equipment, extrication tools and vehicles leaves for Turkey."

“India continues to support the people of Türkiye in their hour of need," he said.

On the departure of the first plane on Monday night, he had posted: “India's Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities in action.

“The 1st batch of earthquake relief material leaves for Türkiye, along with NDRF Search & Rescue Teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines & other necessary equipment.”

On Monday, EAM Jaishankar had spoken with his Turkish and Syrian counterparts to express solidarity amidst the quake devastation and offer help.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had expressed anguish at the loss and damage due to the quake and directed that rescue and medical teams and relief material be sent to Turkey.

The government decided to send two teams of NDRF comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment to the earthquake hit areas for search and rescue operations.

Medical Teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines, an official statement said.

The relief material will be sent in coordination with the Turkey government and the Indian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General office in Istanbul, it said.