Indian Air Force Airlifts 65-Tonne Bailey Bridge to Sri Lanka in Massive Cyclone Ditwah Relief Operation

An Indian Air Force C-17 airlifts a 65-tonne Bailey Bridge from Hindan to Colombo as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu.

Colombo:

India continues to provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka through Operation Sagar Bandhu following the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which claimed over 400 lives in the island nation.

Cyclone Ditwah made landfall in Sri Lanka on November 28, causing extensive flooding, torrential rainfall, and landslides that resulted in widespread destruction across multiple districts. Responding rapidly to this crisis, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to deliver critical relief supplies, including food, medical aid, rescue support, and essential items to the affected regions.

Enhancing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts, the Indian Air Force deployed a C-17 aircraft to transport a 65-tonne Bailey Bridge from Hindan to Colombo, as reported by the Ministry of Defence.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are continuing their rescue operations in Sri Lanka with Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopters delivering nine tonnes of relief materials and successfully rescuing three survivors from disaster-affected areas.

"An Indian Air Force C-17 has airlifted a 65-ton Bailey Bridge from Hindan to Colombo, boosting ongoing HADR efforts in Sri Lanka. While NDRF teams continued life-saving operations, Indian Air Force Mi-17 V5 helicopters carried out sustained missions, delivering 9 T of relief material and rescuing 3 survivors from affected areas," stated the Ministry of Defence in a post on X.

The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka has been providing regular updates on New Delhi's assistance in rescue operations.

In a social media post, the mission stated, "In close coordination with Sri Lankan armed forces, @NDRFHQ teams continue rescuing stranded people from critical areas, providing urgent assistance and relief to those affected."

The update added that NDRF personnel have evacuated vulnerable individuals, including a visually challenged senior citizen and an injured woman, and also recovered a deceased person from beneath compacted debris.

India has additionally deployed air assets and medical resources to support ground operations.

In another update, the mission reported, "The @IAF_MCC C-17 arrived in Sri Lanka with a self-contained, modular field hospital, medical teams, and support vehicles strengthening ongoing #OperationSagarBandhu and medical relief efforts on the ground."

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne, confirmed that over 400 people had perished due to the cyclone and that relief and rescue operations were continuing.

"We are grateful to India, for being the first responder, as India has always been," she remarked, acknowledging India's assistance to Sri Lanka during previous crises including the tsunami, the economic crisis, and now the cyclone.

The magnitude and promptness of India's ongoing support demonstrates its commitment to assisting neighboring nations during crises, in line with its Neighbourhood First policy and MAHASAGAR outlook.