India launched 'Operation Sagar Bandhu' to aid Sri Lanka following the devastation triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. Swinging into swift action, India has helped its neighbour with HADR operations, rescue, and relief efforts to provide aid and assistance to the country.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday stated that India is continuing to support Sri Lanka's flood relief efforts. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying medical teams and equipment arrived in Colombo. In a post on X, he said, "An IAF C-17 transport aircraft with a self-contained, modular field hospital, over 70 medical and support personnel, and vehicles, landed in Colombo. India continues to aid Sri Lanka's efforts at flood relief."
According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, India has sent two rapidly deployable Field Hospitals to Sri Lanka, together with around 70 personnel to deliver medical support in affected regions as rescue and relief work intensifies.
Reports from Sri Lanka stated that the death toll from severe weather linked to Cyclone Ditwah has climbed to 410. Local media, citing the Disaster Management Centre, said 1.4 million residents from 407,594 families have been impacted, as floods, landslides and heavy rains continue across the island.
Earlier, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne greatly appreciated India's role as the first responder- cutting across the various challenges which Sri Lanka faced from the tsunami, economic crisis to the devastation caused by the cyclone.
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