Indian organizations step up to support quake-hit Türkiye

By Ahmad Adil / Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) – A number of Indian organizations have stepped up to send aid to Türkiye, where massive earthquakes shook 10 of its southern provinces earlier this week.

While the Indian government immediately launched relief efforts for Türkiye in the aftermath of two earthquakes on Monday, several groups, organizations, and individuals in the country are now collecting funds to send emergency supplies to the country, where rescue operations are underway to save the lives of those still trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings, shift injured to hospitals, and provide people with shelters.

Niaz Faruqi, a senior functionary of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, the country's oldest and largest socio-religious organization of Muslims, told Anadolu that they have decided to send relief goods to Türkiye worth 10 million Indian rupees (about $121,131).

"We have passed a resolution expressing our shock and grief over the loss of thousands of lives in Türkiye. We have decided to share the grief and offer help to the people," he said, adding that "We stand with the people of Türkiye and will be sending relief soon."

India has dispatched several flights carrying relief material, rescue personnel, and medical teams to Türkiye to help victims in 10 provinces devastated by two massive earthquakes.

In addition, the government has launched "Operation Dost" (Friendship Operation) to send more rescue teams and relief supplies to Türkiye and Syria.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter on Friday, "Our teams are working day and night as a part of ‘Operation Dost.’ They will keep giving their best to ensure maximum lives and property are saved. In this critical time, India stands firmly with the people of Türkiye."

The coordinator of the Barkatullah Youth Forum, a social cultural organization based in central India, said Indians are standing by Turkish people during this difficult time.

“We pray to the Almighty to safeguard the people of Türkiye who are facing the most difficult time of their life. We stand with them and express our heartfelt condolence on the loss of so many innocent lives,” Anas Ali told Anadolu.

"This is the time for all countries to express their solidarity with Türkiye and help them," he added.

Some charity organizations in the Indian cities of Indore, Hyderabad, Nashik, and Bangalore have begun collecting donations and materials for sending to Türkiye.

People from different parts of the country are donating goods and money to be sent to Türkiye for the people in the affected provinces.

"We are doing everything we can to help those affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye," Mufti Omar Abideen, general secretary of the All India Milli Council in southern Telangana state, said.

"The Turkish consulate (Hyderabad city) will only accept materials and has provided a list of those items. We are collecting these items from different parts of the state and will send them to the consulate," he told Anadolu over the phone.

“We are in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and are requesting people to contribute to this cause," he added.

Surinder Pal Singh Oberoi, the founder of the Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust, told Anadolu that his organization is sending large amounts of relief material, including medicine, to Türkiye.

"In these tragic times, we stand in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria. Our trust is sending large quantities of medicine to the people there,” he added.

Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel posted on Twitter about a letter written by an Indian family that donated 100 blankets to Türkiye.

"Sometimes the meaning of words is much deeper than their meaning in the dictionary like in this letter attached by an Indian family to one of the blanket donations," he stated.

At least 18,991 people were killed and 75,523 others injured by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Monday, the country's disaster agency said on Friday.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 10 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

More than 120,344 search and rescue personnel are currently working in the disaster zone, according to Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, with over 80,000 people evacuated from areas affected by the earthquakes.