Antakya: India has supplied Turkey and Syria critical relief supplies, life-saving medications, and equipment worth £700,000, the Union health ministry announced on Tuesday. The Indian government launched Operation Dost to extend assistance to the quake-hit region. Under the operation, the government has also sent search and rescue personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), specially trained dog squads, drilling machines, apart from relief material and emergency medicines. The NDRF’s Labrador duo, Romeo and Julie helped 2 trapped girls in the rubble.
Death toll crosses 40,000
Meanwhile, the death toll from the huge quakes that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria surpassed 40,000 on Tuesday. The WHO describes the earthquakes in Turkey as the worst natural disaster in a century in what it characterises as its Europe region.
Turkish authorities have detained the 131 people under investigation for their alleged involvement in the construction of buildings that were not able to withstand the quake.
Burying unidentified bodies
The recovered bodies of those who died in the earthquake but whose identities are unknown will be buried within five days, according to Turkey's disaster management agency. Unidentified victims would be buried after DNA tests, finger prints, and after being photographed for potential identification, as per the organisation. The action is in keeping with Islamic funeral customs, which call for a burial to happen soon after a person passes away.
Missing Indian found dead
According to the Indian Embassy in Ankara, the body of Indian national Vijay Kumar, who has been missing in Turkey since the earthquake on February 6, has been discovered among the rubble of a hotel in Malatya. Due to facial injuries, Gaud was recognised due to a tattoo of the word "Om" on one of his hands, as per embassy officials.