ISTANBUL: The death toll in the earthquakes that rattled Turkey and Syria has exceeded 7,800. 5,894 people died in Turkey alone. With 1,932 deaths in Syria, the number of people died in the earthquake in both countries is 7,826. Meantime, the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed that the death toll may have crossed 20,000.

The quake shook southern parts of Turkey and northern parts of Syria. President Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 southeastern provinces. Bitter cold is a challenge for rescue operations.

Meantime, India's National Disaster Response Force and the medical team of the Army started rescue operations in Turkey devastated by the earthquake. Two disaster relief force units with 101 members, including women, arrived in Turkey yesterday in Air Force's C-17 Globemaster Hercules aircraft. Units from Ghaziabad and Kolkata led by commanding officer Gurminder Singh went.

Dogs capable of detecting people trapped in the debris, modern drilling machines, medicines and other essentials and small vehicles to transport the rescued to hospital were also taken. They will carry out rescue operations at the places suggested by the Turkish authorities.

Army medical team is also there. It has hospital-ready facilities like 30 beds, X-ray, ventilator, oxygen cylinders and cardiac monitors. As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directive, an emergency meeting was held in Delhi on Monday and decided to send the rescue force.