The Indian army's field hospital set-up in Turkey's Hatay to provide assistance to the earthquake-affected people, has started functioning with running medical, surgical, and emergency wards; X-ray lab and medical store.

"The army field hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkiye has started functioning with running Medical, Surgical & Emergency Wards; X-Ray Lab & Medical Store," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted on Thursday.

An Additional Directorate General of Public Information team will work round the clock to provide relief to the affected people, according to Jaishankar.

Jaishankar on Thursday said the sixth plane from India carrying rescue personnel, essentials, and medical equipment for earthquake relief efforts has reached Turkey.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, "The sixth #OperationDost 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."

Firat Sunel made the remarks at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad from where Indian Air Force's C17 Globemaster aircraft with the NDRF team, medical equipment, and relief equipment, took off for Turkey, as part of the ongoing 'Operation Dost.'

Earlier, at a special briefing on `Operation Dost’, on Wednesday official spokesperson of the MEA Arindam Bagchi first announced the Indian Army's field hospital set-up at Iskenderun, Hatay province. 

Jaishankar, sharing photos of the facility on Twitter posted: "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."

Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) told media persons at the special briefing that the earthquake struck the Southern part of Turkey and Syria, covers almost 1.2 lakh square kilometers on the Turkish part and it is West to East about 450 kms and from North to South about 290 kms. 
 

Image courtesy: Twitter@DrSJaishankar