Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: After Cyclone Ditwah battered Sri Lanka which faced one of its worst natural disasters in recent years, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a rapid relief mission aimed at delivering food, medicines, rescue support, and essential supplies to affected communities. Heavy rainfall triggered massive floods, landslides, and widespread damage in the country.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy have been central to this mission. India’s first relief flight, a C-130J transport aircraft, carried over 12 tonnes of emergency supplies to Colombo.
The operation includes ongoing rescue support, with Indian Navy helicopters participating in evacuation and search missions inside Sri Lanka. More consignments are being delivered as part of India’s commitment under its “Neighbourhood First” policy and long-standing humanitarian cooperation with Sri Lanka. According to official statements, India’s relief package sent under the mission includes food supplies, drinking water packets, essential medicine, temporary shelters and tarpaulin, hygiene items, emergency lighting and communication equipment.
The NDRF has deployed two expert teams consisting of trained rescuers and canines from the Hindon Airbase, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh through an Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft. The contingent carried inflatable boats, hydraulic cutters, breaching tools, communication equipment, medical kits, etc. The operation has enhanced the rescue capacity of Sri Lanka amid Cyclone Ditwah’s impact across coastal and densely populated regions. Further assistance is expected in the coming days as rescue and recovery operations continue.