Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday praised the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for their Herculean efforts in Turkey, following a devastating earthquake. In a tweet, Shah expressed his pride in the NDRF for saving a six-year-old.
He reaffirmed the Indian government's commitment to making the organisation the world's leading disaster response force under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Indian government had launched 'Operation Dost' in response to the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, sending six planes with rescue personnel, essentials, and medical equipment to the affected areas. According to a government press release, the NDRF, in collaboration with Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), was able to save the life of a six-year-old girl, Beren, in the Gaziantep city of Nurdagi town. In addition, NDRF rescuers have retrieved eight bodies from the rubble.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took to Twitter to provide updates on the relief efforts. He wrote about the arrival of the sixth flight, which carried more rescue teams, dog squads, and essential medicines. He also shared pictures of a field hospital in Turkey where medical experts are preparing to treat emergencies.
The earthquake, which measured 7.7 on the Richter scale, caused widespread destruction and claimed over 17,500 lives in Turkey and Syria. Turkey's Ambassador to India, Firat Sunel, expressed his appreciation for 'Operation Dost' and described it as a symbol of the friendship between the two nations. He spoke at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad, from where the Indian Air Force's C17 Globemaster aircraft carrying the NDRF team and relief equipment took off for Turkey. He emphasized the need to deepen the relationship between India and Turkey in the wake of the tragedy.