The deployment includes INS Gharial and three Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels — LCU 54, LCU 51 and LCU 57 — which have been tasked with transporting critical Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies. Pic/Defence PRO
The LCUs reached Colombo on Sunday morning and handed over essential material to Sri Lankan authorities, the Defence Ministry said
Operation Sagar Bandhu was launched to provide urgent Search and Rescue (SAR) support and HADR assistance after Sri Lanka was hit by a severe cyclone
Earlier, INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri and INS Sukanya had also delivered relief stores and provided heli-borne SAR support
INS Gharial is expected to arrive in Trincomalee later on Monday to continue the delivery of relief supplies
The Navy said the deployment, carrying 1,000 tonnes of aid, underscores the close people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka as well as India’s commitment to extending timely assistance to its neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region
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