Published Feb 07, 2023 | 4:35 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 07, 2023 | 6:53 PM
Assistance sent to Turkye from India. (Twitter)
Karnataka government on Tuesday, 7 February, set up a helpline to come to the aid of people from the state in Türkiye where an earthquake on Monday killed almost 5,000 people.
Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said his government is setting up the helpline.
He said the state government is in touch with the External Affairs Ministry and Indian Embassy to gather information regarding Kannadiagas there.
“We are in touch with the External Affairs Ministry, they are setting up a special helpline, we are also gathering information regarding Kannadigas there through the Ministry and the Embassy in Türkiye,” Bommai said.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said the state government will also be setting up a helpline.
“If people share information about their family members there in Türkiye, our government will try to reach out and help them, and will also make all required arrangements for them to come back (to India) if required,” he added.
People can contact the State Emergency Operation Helpline Numbers (Revenue Department-Disaster Management)- 080-1070, 080-22340676- will facilitate information and assistance flow (through the Ministry of External Affairs) for affected people of Karnataka in Turkiye, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority said in a release.
The earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on Monday killed more than 4,900 people and flattened thousands of buildings in Türkiye and neighbouring Syria. It was centred in Türkiye’s southeastern province of Kahramanmaras and was felt as far away as Cairo.
A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from India on Tuesday departed for Türkiye to help in relief and rescue operations there.
“India expresses its solidarity at this challenging moment,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.
The first C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, carrying a group of search and rescue personnel, specially trained dog squads, drilling machines, relief material, medicines landed in Adana in the quake-hit country in the morning.
A second IAF plane with similar consignments has already left for Türkiye around noon.
“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, Türkiye,” Jaishankar said on Twitter.
Both the first and the second aircraft carried search and rescue personnel including from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
“Second @IAF_MCC C-17 with self-contained @NDRFHQ teams including dog squads, search & rescue equipment, extrication tools and vehicles leaves for Türkiye. India continues to support the people of Türkiye in their hour of need,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
Second @IAF_MCC C-17 with self-contained @NDRFHQ teams including dog squads, search & rescue equipment, extrication tools and vehicles leaves for Türkiye.
India continues to support the people of Türkiye in their hour of need. pic.twitter.com/Pkfbwrg8FF
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 7, 2023
It said the 99-member medical team comprises critical care specialists. The contingent includes orthopaedic surgical teams, general surgical specialist teams and medical specialist teams apart from others.
The teams are equipped with X-ray machines, ventilators, oxygen generation plant, cardiac monitors and associated equipment to establish a 30-bedded medical facility.
“The Army mobilised a 99-member medical team to earthquake hit Türkiye. The team comprises medical specialists and is equipped with X-ray machines, ventilators, oxygen generation plants, cardiac monitors and associated equipment, to establish a 30-bedded medical facility,” an Army official said.
India on Monday decided to immediately despatch search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force, medical teams and relief material to Türkiye following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions to offer all possible assistance to the country.
Several countries, including the US and the UK, are sending relief materials and search and rescue specialists to Türkiye to help search for survivors of the quake.
“First batch of earthquake relief material along with NDRF’s special search & rescue teams and trained dog squats just arrived in Türkiye. Thank you India for your support and solidarity,” the Turkish embassy in India tweeted.
(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)
