Major Beena Tiwari, seen hugging Turkish woman in viral pictures

Ghaziabad: A medical team of the Indian Army under Operation Host touched down in India on Monday at Ghaziabad’s Hinton Airport after 12 days of operations and treated more than 3,500 patients in earthquake-hit Turkey.
Indian Army Major Major Bina Tiwari, who served as a medical officer at 60 Parachute Field Hospital and was seen in a viral picture hugging a Turkish woman, narrated her experience while talking to ANI.
Speaking to ANI, Major Beena Tiwari said that when they reached Turkey they saw huge loss of life and resources. Amidst all the confusion, it was also difficult to find a place to set up the hospital.
Within hours of reaching Turkey, Major Tiwari said the army set up their hospital in a building near the local hospital in Iskenderun.

A 99-member team successfully ran a fully-equipped 30-bed field hospital in Iskenderun, Haday, treating nearly 4,000 patients 24 hours a day.
The local people and the Turkish government helped them a lot, Major added.
“We were treated very kindly by the locals. As soon as we set up the hospital, patients started coming and there was no stop after that. In 11 to 12 days, we saw more than 3,600 patients there,” said Major Beena Tiwari. said.
As soon as the mobilization order was received, the 60 Parachute Field Hospital Group was ready to take off from Agra Air Force Base on 7 February within 8 to 10 hours.
Second-in-Command of 60 Para Field Hospital Lt. Col. Adarsh Sharma thanked the Indian government for the swift decision to send them to the disaster.
Speaking to ANI, the Lt Col said, “The mission is to win the hearts and minds of the people by providing proper medical care.
Lt Col Adarsh Sharma said time was the most important factor in this mission.
He said they were mobilized from Agra on the evening of February 7 and reached Turkey’s Adana airport on the morning of February 8.
From Adana Airport, the Indian medical team proceeded to Iskandrun, where they established their field hospital. And within a few hours, the hospital became operational and began treating victims on the afternoon of February 8.
Lt. Col. said that their engagement resulted in heavy casualties.
“We are fortunate to be able to provide them with the best medical care possible in that situation and the aim is to win the hearts and minds of people by providing timely medical care. I think we have achieved that,” he said. Lt. Col.
During the total period of surgery, we saw more than 3600 patients including major and minor surgeries. For the initial 2-3 days, a lot of neglected trauma patients come to the hospital, after which, the profile patients start to change. Trauma cases have reduced and chronic patients have started coming in,” said Lt Col Adarsh Sharma while talking to ANI.
Lt Col Sharma said the patients were very grateful as the healthcare system was not functioning at its maximum. They were very grateful to India and its team.
“I want to thank the people of Turkey who helped us with translations and pharmacies. A lot of practitioners and local doctors also joined us,” he added.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey’s southeast and neighboring Syria on February 6, killing more than 45,000 people and leaving more than a million homeless, with an economic cost of billions of dollars, according to Al Jazeera.
India is one of the first responders in search and rescue operations in Turkey and Syria.
India launched Operation TOAST after the devastating earthquakes and tremors in the region of Turkey and Syria.
As part of this operation, the Government of India sent tons of relief goods to both Syria and Turkey in collaboration with the Indian Army.
Under this, India sent relief supplies, a mobile hospital, and specialized search and rescue teams to Turkey. 250 soldiers were also deployed in the worst affected areas of Turkey and Syria.
Three volunteer teams of NDRF reached Turkey with more than 150 specially trained personnel, Rambo and his friends (dog squad), special vehicles and other supplies.
135 tonnes of special equipment and other relief supplies also reached Turkey.