In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused severe flooding, loss of life and widespread disruption across Sri Lanka, India had launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on 28 November to provide urgent Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support.
In close coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, the Government of India has delivered 9.5 tonnes of emergency rations through two Indian Navy ships at Colombo and deployed three Indian Air Force aircraft to airlift an additional 31.5 tonnes of relief material, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat food, medicines and surgical equipment.
The assistance also included two BHISHM medical cubes with a five-member medical team for on-site training, and the deployment of 80 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as part of specialised Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams.
Another 12 tonnes of relief supplies was dispatched onboard INS Sukanya, taking the total relief handed over to 53 tonnes.
Besides this, 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.
Rescued persons included nationals of Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Indian Naval Ships INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, which were present in Colombo as part of the 75th Anniversary International Fleet Review (IFR-2025) of the Sri Lanka Navy, were tasked at short notice to provide immediate relief based on emerging requirements ashore.
As part of the effort, the ships have handed over relief provisions for distribution to those affected.
The ship-borne helicopters were deployed for aerial recconnaisance of the affected areas and ongoing Search & Rescue efforts.
Augmenting these efforts, the Indian Navy had also deployed INS Sukanya to Trincomalee on 1st December. The ship carried critical relief materials to further strengthen ongoing assistance to the people of Sri Lanka.
