The sixth plane from India under ”Operation Dost” reached Turkey on Thursday carrying rescue personnel, essentials and medical equipment for the earthquake-affected people, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, “The sixth Operation Dost flight reaches Turkiye. More search and rescue teams, dog squads, essential search & access equipment, medicines and medical equipment ready for deployment in the relief efforts.”

He also posted a few pictures of a field hospital in Turkey where medical experts were preparing to treat emergencies.

“This field hospital in Hatay, Turkiye will treat those affected by the earthquake. Our team of medical & critical care specialists and equipment are preparing to treat emergencies,” Jaishankar wrote on Twitter.

India has so far been able to send more than 250 personnel, specialised equipment and other relief material amounting to more than 135 tonnes to Türkiye. These include three self-sustained teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) numbering more than 150 specially trained personnel, along with dog squads, specialised equipment, vehicles and supplies. Their equipment allows for the detection, location, access and extrication of people trapped under collapsed structures.

In addition, personnel and equipment have been sent to set up a 30-bed self-sustained field hospital of the Indian Army. This includes a team of 99 specially trained personnel, with essential medicines, advanced equipment, vehicles and ambulances. The hospital will provide for a fully functional Operation Theatre, and facilities such as X-rays, ventilators, etc.

”The deployment of our teams in Türkiye is being coordinated with the local authorities through our embassy, which has set up a Camp Office at Adana. The NDRF teams are rendering assistance in rescue operations at Gaziantep while the medical team is setting up the Field Hospital in Iskenderun. A team of officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, two of which are Turkish-speaking officers, have been deployed to Türkiye to assist the teams involved in rescue and relief operations,” the MEA said.

”Our embassy is also ascertaining the well-being of Indian nationals in the affected region, particularly in Adana, Gaziantep, Malatya and Kahramanmaras provinces of Türkiye, which have been the most affected due to the earthquake,” the MEA added.