UPDATE - Indian official visits Turkish Embassy after deadly earthquake

UPDATES WITH VISIT BY INDIAN OFFICIAL TO TURKISH EMBASSY; STATEMENT BY NEPAL; REVISES HEADLINE

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - A senior Indian official on Monday visited the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi to express condolences over the devastation caused by earthquakes in southern Türkiye, officials said.

Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, India's deputy foreign minister, visited the Turkish Embassy on Monday, said ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi.

"Conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message of sympathy and humanitarian support. Underscored readiness to send relief material, as well as NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and medical teams to assist Türkiye," Bagchi wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, India announced it was sending search and rescue teams along with relief material to Türkiye after massive earthquakes jolted the region on Monday morning.

Modi in the morning said he was anguished by the loss of lives and damage to property due to the earthquake, adding that India stands in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and is “ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy.”

“Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment are ready to be flown to the earthquake-hit areas for search and rescue operations," said a statement by Modi’s office. "Medical teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines."

It also said relief material will be dispatched in coordination "with the government of Türkiye and Indian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General Office in Istanbul."

The country's main opposition Indian National Congress party said "we are saddened by the loss of lives in Turkey and Syria due to the devastating earthquake."

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families & the loved ones of the victims. We stand with them during this time of grief," the party said on Monday.

- Nepal expresses condolences

Nepal's Foreign Ministry also conveyed condolences to Türkiye over the deadly earthquake.

"Deeply saddened to learn about the damage and devastation caused by the massive earthquake in Türkiye. Our heartfelt condolences on the loss of precious lives and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured people. In this hour of difficulty, we stand in solidarity with Türkiye," the ministry said.

Some 1,500 people were killed and 8,533 others injured in 10 provinces after two strong earthquakes jolted southern Türkiye on Monday, an official from the country's disaster agency said.

Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and heavily affected several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis.