In quake-hit Turkey, 10 Indian nationals stuck, one missing: MEA

“He has not been traced for the last two days. We have been in touch with his family and the company in Bengaluru which employs him,” Verma said.

He said the MEA has set up a special help desk in Ankara to receive and anticipate such queries. “We have received calls from about 75 persons, asking the embassy for more information and assistance,” he said. “Three other Indians who had approached us have moved to safer habitation and are doing alright. We have already deputed teams for rescue operations to the affected areas.”

Besides the vastness of the geographical spread of the area affected, the climatic conditions are harsh, Verma said. Temperatures are sub-zero at night; transport and communication links have been disturbed; and cellphone towers have been affected, “so communication can be patchy,” he said.

“Plus, the focus is on rescue, and (thus) other regular services — water, power — could be in shortage,” he said. “Apart from one Indian missing and 10 Indians who are safe but in tough conditions, we don’t have any other reports at this point of time.”

“Our response has been extremely swift. When you look at the intricacies of such an operation, India, since the Tsunami crisis, has established enviable capacity in HADR (humanitarian assistance in disaster relief),” Verma said.

NDRF director-general Atul Karwal said India has sent four aircraft to Turkey, two of them carrying NDRF teams and the other two C-17s carrying medical teams. “We have also sent one C-130 aircraft to Syria carrying medical supplies and equipment.”

Karwal said the teams collected ration and tents for a self-sustained 15-day operation. “These teams carried seven vehicles, four canines, 107 rescuers, including five women, who have gone for the first time for such an operation internationally. The teams are stationed at Nurdagi, the worst-affected part,” he said. “A third team’s requirement was pitched and it was airlifted from Varanasi on Wednesday…(it has) 51 rescuers and four vehicles.”