New Delhi: In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, which has caused severe flooding, loss of life, and widespread disruption across Sri Lanka, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to provide urgent Search & Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to its closest maritime neighbor.
India has handed over a total of 53 tons of relief material to Sri Lanka, which includes 9.5 tons of emergency rations; deployed three Indian Air Force aircraft for airlifting another 31.5 tons of relief materials, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat food items, medicines and surgical equipment.
Eighty people from India's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are in Sri Lanka to assist in rescue efforts.
A month-old infant and his family were rescued from a flood-hit home near Puttalam, Sri Lanka, by India's NDRF team. (Photo courtesy: X@IndiainSL)
In addition, Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant and MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force conducted extensive rescue operations, airlifting stranded people, including pregnant women, infants, and those critically injured.
Rescuees included nationals of Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Over 2000 stranded Indians have already been brought back via special Indian Air Force flights.
NDRF teams continue to carry out search-and-rescue operations in various severely affected and isolated regions of Sri Lanka, assisting flood-hit families and ensuring their immediate safety. Over 150 persons have been rescued and assisted in these combined operations, which are continuing.
