IAF planes carrying army field hospital land in quake-hit Turkiye

New Delhi: Two Indian Air Force planes carrying an army field hospital for a 30-bedded medical facility have reached Adana in quake-hit Turkiye, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.

He said that a second IAF C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft has reached anlurfa in Türkiye, where a 7.8 Richter earthquake and several massive aftershocks have led to over 4,000 deaths so far.

“Two Indian Airforce aircrafts carrying an @adgpi field hospital for a 30 bedded medical facility have now reached Adana, Türkiye.

“Second C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft of Indian Airforce reaches anlurfa in Türkiye.

“Our relief and rescue efforts continue,” he tweeted.

The Indian Air Force flight that arrived in Adana includes 54 members of the Indian Army medical team.

The Indian Army in a tweet said the team is well equipped to provide relief and medical assistance. “The members of #IndianArmy Humanitarian Assistance Team are committed & determined to execute their task and assist the affected people of earthquake hit #Türkiye. The team is well equipped and geared up to provide the relief and medical assistance.”

India on Tuesday sent five planeloads of relief material, equipment and personnel, including NDRF personnel and doctors, to quake-hit Turkiye and Syria.

For the worst hit Turkiye, India sent four Indian Air Force C-17 planeloads of relief material, equipment and personnel, weighing over 108 tons.

These include:

Self-contained search and rescue units of NDRF numbering over 100 personnel, with their equipment, vehicles and dog squads. These units have specialized equipment for detection, location, access and extrication, and are able to conduct collapsed structure search and rescue (CSSR) operations. Equipment includes hand and power tools, lighting equipment, air-lifting bags, chainsaw, angle cutters, rotary rescue saw, victim location equipment, life detectors, etc. The dog squads will help locate victim in rubble and collapsed structures, an official statement said late on Tuesday night.

Equipment and 99 personnel to set up a 30-bed medical facility in field operation conditions. Personnel comprises medical specialists in various fields. Medical equipment includes x-ray machines, ventilators, operation-theater, vehicles, ambulances, generators, etc.

For Syria, Over 6 tons of relief material including three truckloads of general and protective gear, emergency use medicines, syringes and equipment including ECG machines, monitors, and other essential medical items were sent.

EAM S Jaishankar in a late night tweet posted that an IAF flight “carrying 6 tons of Emergency Relief Assistance has taken off for Syria.

“Consignment consists of life saving medicines and emergency medical items.

“India stands in solidarity with those most affected by this tragedy.” (UNI)