Did Pakistan deny airspace to Indian plane carrying emergency aid to quake-hit Turkey

Islamabad, Feb 07: Several media outlets claimed that Pakistan had denied airspace to India's C-17 plane carrying relief aid to earthquake-hit Turkey on February 07.

Quoting CNN-News18, they had reported that the Indian Airforce C-17 airplane consisting of emergency aid to the earthquake-hit Turkey was forced to take a detour after being denied airspace by Pakistan.

There was no official confirmation either from the Indian or the Pakistani side of this development.

However, it was later emerged that Indian officials never asked for permission from the Pakistan aviation authorities with regard to sending their military aircraft.

The Indian Army dispatched a field hospital to provide medical support to the earthquake-affected people of Turkey in line with the government's decision to provide support to the country.

The Agra-based Army Field Hospital has despatched an 89-member medical team. The medical team comprises critical care specialists. The contingent includes orthopaedic surgical teams, general surgical specialist team and medical specialist teams apart from others.

The teams are equipped with X-ray machines, ventilators, oxygen generation plant, cardiac monitors and associated equipment to establish a 30-bedded medical facility.

India on Monday decided to immediately despatch search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force, medical teams and relief material to Turkey following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instructions to offer all possible assistance to the country.

The first aircraft with the relief materials was sent on Monday night. The earthquake on Monday killed more than 4,000 people and flattened thousands of buildings in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.

It was centred in Turkey's southeastern province of Kahramanmaras and was felt as far away as Cairo.