In the wake of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah that battered Sri Lanka — triggering massive floods, landslides and loss of lives — India has swiftly launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to extend humanitarian assistance to its neighbour.
Under the operation, two transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) — a C-130J and an IL-76 — delivered nearly 21 tonnes of relief material to Colombo. The supplies included tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat food, and essential sanitary items.
Alongside the airlifted aid, the Indian Navy — via its vessels INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri — delivered additional relief supplies, including dry and fresh rations, marking a coordinated sea-air response aimed at supporting flood-hit and landslide-affected areas.
In a major rescue push, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed two specialised Urban Search & Rescue teams, comprising around 80 personnel and four canines, to Sri Lanka aboard the IL-76 aircraft — equipped with boats, hydraulic cutters, breaching tools, medical kits and other emergency gear — to assist in ongoing search and rescue operations across the hardest-hit regions.
Officials from the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka have also established an Emergency Help Desk at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Colombo, to assist Indian nationals stranded or affected by the disaster — offering essentials such as food, drinking water, and help via a contact number accessible through calls and WhatsApp.
Through Operation Sagar Bandhu, India has reiterated its commitment to its “Neighbourhood First” policy and reaffirmed its position as a first responder in humanitarian crises in the Indian Ocean region.