A coordinated air rescue mission by the Indian Air Force (IAF) saved 24 stranded passengers and three critically injured individuals in Sri Lanka’s disaster-hit Kotmale region.
According to officials, a MI-17 helicopter-deployed by India under ongoing humanitarian assistance-airlifted 24 people to Colombo. The rescued group included 12 Indian nationals, 10 other foreign tourists, and two Sri Lankans, as well as a pregnant woman.
In a parallel effort, three critically injured casualties were transported to Colombo for urgent medical care.
Earlier in the day, five teams comprising 40 Sri Lankan Army personnel were also flown from Diyathalawa Army Camp to assist operations on the ground in Kotmale, where landslides and flash floods continue to hamper access.
In addition, the NDRF teams distributed medical and emergency supplies to stranded residents in Puttalam. Meanwhile, Indian Airforce aircrafts have helped in airlifting stranded passengers to Thiruvananthapuram and Hindan.
Rescue and relief operations under the Operation Sagar Bandhu have been crucial in saving lives in Sri Lanka which is battling the effects of Cyclone Ditwah that has claimed 193 lives so far.
