India to send NDRF, medical and relief teams to Turkey

The government on Monday decided to immediately dispatch search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force, medical teams and relief material to earthquake-hit Turkey following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instructions to offer all possible assistance to the country

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is India's specialized force to respond to natural and man-made disasters. It is often deployed to provide rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of a disaster. In the case of an earthquake, the NDRF can provide search and rescue services, medical assistance, and support the distribution of relief supplies such as food, water, and shelter. If India is sending the NDRF, medical, and relief support, it is likely in response to a recent disaster.

Two teams of the NDRF comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment are ready to be flown to the earthquake-hit area for search and rescue operations.

India and other countries are rushing aid after a major earthquake of magnitude 7.8 hit Turkey and Syria earlier in the day leaving over 1,300 people dead and several hundreds injured. The death toll is still mounting.

PM Narendra Modi reached out to quake hit-Turkey. “India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey and is ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy,” the PM said. The government has decided to send rescue teams, medical teams and relief material.

A second quake of magnitude 7.6 followed the killer 7.8 earthquake which had its epicentre in Gaziantep about 90 kilometres from the Syrian border. This is the region which houses millions of refugees from the Syrian civil war. The quake was felt as far away as Cairo. Keep scrolling down to read the latest updates on what’s happening.