Indian aircraft with relief materials for Turkey denied airspace by Pakistan

Islamabad: An Indian NDRF aircraft carrying relief materials to the earthquake victims in Turkey was forced to take a detour after being denied airspace by Pakistan.

Earlier, Turkey’s ambassador to India Firat Sunel termed India as “Dost” for the generosity of the Indian government in providing funds and relief materials to his country.

According to an ANI report, Firat Sunel thanked India for sending aid to Turkey and said, “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”

The Turkish ambassador took to social media to thank India for its help to Turkey.

“Dost is a common word in Turkish and Hindi… We have a Turkish proverb: “Dost kara günde belli olur” (a friend in need is a friend indeed). Thank you very much,” Firat Sunel posted on Twitter.

Turkey has suffered extensive damage after three devastating earthquakes struck the country within a span of 24 hours.

On Monday, Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan visited Turkey’s embassy and expressed condolences. He also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sympathy and humanitarian support.

India has dispatched rescue and medical teams to Turkey.

The Prime Minister’s office (PMO) said that a meeting was held and it was decided that the search and rescue teams of NDRF and medical teams along with relief materials would be dispatched immediately in coordination with the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

Two teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (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, the PMO said in a statement.

“Medical teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines. Relief material will be dispatched in coordination with the Turkish government and the Indian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General office in Istanbul,” the PMO said.

PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister held a meeting in South Block to discuss immediate relief measures.

The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, representatives of the Ministries of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), NDRF, Defence forces the external affairs ministry (MEA) and well as the ministries of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

The epicentre of the earthquake was near the city of Gaziantep in south-central Turkey.

One of the largest earthquakes to hit Turkey in more than a century, caused vibrations throughout the area, caused buildings to collapse, and forced people to flee into the streets.

The United States Geological Survey has recorded 24 aftershocks in Turkey. Effects of the earthquake was felt in Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Jordan, Iraq and as far away as Romania, Georgia and Egypt, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, as cited by the Times of Israel.

Condolences poured in from worldwide after reports of the massive quake hit Turkey claiming numerous lives. Earlier in the day Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter and condoled the loss of life in Turkey and the nearby areas.

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