Operation Dost wraps up with thanks from Turkey

The final National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team under Operation Dost returns home from Turkey after Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) announced the end of rescue operations.

Major Beena Tiwari, the Indian Army Major who served as the Medical Officer in the 60 parachute field hospital, was seen hugging a Turkish woman in a viral picture, has recounted her experience.

Major Beena Tiwari said that they saw a tremendous loss of life and resources when they reached Turkey. Between all the chaos, finding a spot to set up the hospital was also tough. The army set up their hospital in a building near a local hospital in Iskenderun.

The 99-member self-contained team successfully ran a fully equipped 30-bedded Field Hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, attending to nearly 4,000 patients around the clock.

"We were treated very homely by the locals. As soon as we set up the hospital, patients started to come and there was no stopping after that. During 11 to 12 days there, we saw more than 3,600 patients there," Major Beena Tiwari said.

(ANI)