New Delhi: In a swift humanitarian response, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to aid Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread devastation, including floods, landslides, and power outages. On Saturday, the Indian Air Force airlifted 21 tonnes of relief material, accompanied by over 80 NDRF personnel and eight tonnes of emergency equipment to support rescue and relief operations in the island nation.
Two IAF aircraft, a C-130 and an IL-76, departed from Hindon Air Base late Friday night. The C-130 carrying essential rations, sanitary supplies, and emergency equipment landed at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, around 1:30 am, where officials from the Indian High Commission and the Sri Lanka Air Force received the consignment. This followed the first tranche of aid sent on Friday via the Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant and INS Udaigiri.
The assistance underscores India’s Neighbourhood First policy, with the IAF stating, “India stands firmly with Sri Lanka in this hour of need.”
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre reported 123 deaths and 130 missing persons as of Saturday morning, with over 200,000 people across 61,000 families affected by floods and landslides. The districts of Kandy and Badulla were among the worst-hit, recording more than 50 and 35 deaths respectively, with several still unaccounted for.
The cyclone has caused major river and reservoir overflows, forcing urgent evacuation warnings. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue, with forecasts predicting over 200 mm of additional rain, even as Cyclone Ditwah begins to move away from the island.
The disaster has also led to massive power outages, affecting nearly 35% of Sri Lanka, with around 7 million Ceylon Electricity Board customers impacted since early Friday. Restoration efforts remain hampered due to persistent rain, flooding, and blocked roads.
India’s rapid deployment of relief materials and personnel under Operation Sagar Bandhu is expected to provide crucial support for ongoing rescue, evacuation, and recovery efforts as Sri Lanka grapples with one of its worst natural disasters in recent years.
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