India has significantly ramped up its relief and rescue operations in Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu, following the devastating floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully concluded the evacuation of over 300 stranded Indian nationals on Monday morning.
🚁 Evacuation and Airlift Operations
- Evacuation Conclusion: The final group of 104 stranded Indians was brought back on Monday when the IAF aircraft landed in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Total Evacuated: The IAF has evacuated more than 300 stranded Indian citizens in multiple missions.
- Airlift Assets: Heavy-lift carriers, including the IAF’s IL-76 and C-130J, used for transporting relief supplies and NDRF teams, were repurposed to bring back the stranded passengers.
- Hybrid Missions: IAF helicopters conducted “hybrid rescue missions,” including airlifting 57 Sri Lankan Army personnel to the landslide-hit area of Kotmale, which is completely cut off by road. A total of 55 civilians (including Indians, foreign nationals, and Sri Lankans) were also successfully evacuated to Colombo.
📦 Relief and Rescue Under Operation Sagar Bandhu
India’s comprehensive rescue and relief mission, Operation Sagar Bandhu, continues to expand across affected regions, reaffirming the “Neighbourhood First” policy.
- NDRF Deployment: Specialized NDRF teams are actively working in badly affected and cut-off areas, including Puttalam and Badulla.
- Essential Supplies: Nearly 21 tonnes of emergency supplies were flown in last weekend, including tents, blankets, mattresses, dignity kits, and other urgently needed material. The total relief material delivered by air and sea has reached approximately 27 tonnes.
- Naval Support: Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant have been mobilized for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, moving people to safer locations in close coordination with Sri Lankan forces.
🇸🇪 Sri Lanka: Worst Disaster in 20 Years
The devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah has been catastrophic for the island nation:
- Death Toll: The death toll has tragically risen to at least 334, with over 370 people still missing.
- Impact: The disaster has affected over 1.3 million people across the island and is being called the worst natural disaster to strike the country in 20 years.
- Government Response: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency and pledged to rebuild the affected areas with international assistance.