India has delivered 53 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka and evacuated over 2,000 stranded Indian nationals in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the government said on Monday.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian armed forces are conducting ongoing search and rescue operations in severely affected areas of Sri Lanka, assisting flood-hit families and ensuring their immediate safety. Over 150 people have already been rescued.
India’s humanitarian support has been delivered via air and sea since November 28. The Indian Navy’s INS Sukanya, along with aircraft from the Indian Air Force, transported essential relief, including tents, blankets, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat food, medicines, surgical equipment, and two BHISHM cubes with on-site medical teams. Additionally, 80-person NDRF Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams were deployed to aid in relief operations.
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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shared on X that “INS Sukanya enters Trincomalee with relief materials. #OperationSagarBandhu.” Earlier, 9.5 tonnes of emergency rations were provided in Colombo from INS Vikrant and INS Udyagiri. Another 31.5 tonnes were airlifted by IAF aircraft.
Rescue operations included pregnant women, infants, critically injured persons, and nationals from India, Sri Lanka, Germany, Slovenia, the UK, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Evacuations were carried out via special IAF and commercial flights, with C-130J and IL-76 aircraft bringing groups of Indians back to Hindan and Trivandrum.
Guided by India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, the MEA said India remains the first responder, standing in solidarity with Sri Lanka and committed to supporting ongoing rescue, relief, and early recovery operations.
The operation underscores India’s rapid response capabilities and regional humanitarian support in times of natural disasters, reflecting its continued focus on maritime security and disaster preparedness in the neighbourhood.
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