India has handed over 53 tons of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief materials so far to Cylone hit Sri Lanka as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu. In coordination with the Sri Lankan authorities, two Indian Navy ships handed over 9.5 tons of emergency rations in Colombo following Cyclone Ditwah. While three Indian Air Force aircrafts have also been deployed to airlift another 31.5 tons of relief materials, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat food items, medicines, and surgical equipment. An additional 12 tons of relief supplies have been dispatched on board Indian Navy Ship Sukanya. 

 

Over 150 persons have been rescued and assisted in under the operation. The rescued individuals included nationals of Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. 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. 

 

Evacuation of Indian nationals stranded due to Cyclone Ditwah has also been undertaken via special Indian Air Force flights as well as commercial flights, with over 2,000 stranded Indians already brought back.

 

India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on the 28th of last month to provide urgent Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to its closest maritime neighbour, following the severe flooding, loss of life, and widespread disruption caused across Sri Lanka by Cyclone Ditwah.