- Tuesday, March 04, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
The Indian armed forces have set up a field hospital in Hatay in Turkey to assist those affected by the devastating earthquake of February 6. The hospital was set up in less than six hours and it is functioning round the clock to cater to the injured.
More than 36,000 people have reportedly died in the deadly quake in Turkey and its northern neighbour of Syria. Tens of thousands were injured.
The rescue teams were still looking for survivors in the rubble across the country in extreme cold temperatures. The World Health Organization has warned that time was running out for the injured and those who were still feared to be trapped under the debris.
A team comprising 96 Indian Army personnel is working at the 60 Para Field Hospital in Hatay’s Iskenderun to provide medical assistance to the injured.
“Nearly 800 people have been treated at the hospital,” Lt. Col Yaduvir Singh, commanding officer of the 60 Para Field Hospital, was quoted as saying by NDTV.
He said they are prepared to take on patients for as long as needed.
Lieutenant Colonel Adarsh, second-in-command, 60 Para Field Hospital, said they had already performed a number of major surgeries at the hospital.
The Indian Army has been lauded for its efforts by the people of Turkey.
“Thank you, Hindustan. We appreciate that they are with us. We are happy they are here,” one patient was heard saying.
Earlier this week, a picture of a Turkish woman kissing the face of a woman officer of the Indian Army went viral on social media.
A Turkish ?? woman hugged and kissed Indian female officer, to express gratitude for the humanitarian aid along with the man power to help the victims of #TurkeySyriaEarthquake pic.twitter.com/KACI3Fa9TG
— Aarif Shah (@shahaariff) February 9, 2023
The post was shared by the official Twitter handle of the Indian Army’s additional directorate general of public information which wrote in the caption, “We care.”
India has sent several flights loaded with officials, rescue teams, equipment, medicine and other essentials to Turkey under Operation Dost soon after the disaster.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit while people were asleep. Thousands of buildings were destroyed in no time, leaving several thousands trapped and dead. Official sources said nearly 6,000 buildings, including public hospitals, crumbled in seven cities.
