Top News

Operation Sagar Bandhu Latest Update: After cyclone ‘Ditwah’ caused massive devastation in Sri Lanka, India has immediately extended a helping hand in this time of crisis. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ as part of a large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation.

Reiterating the spirit of ‘Neighbourhood First’, India has taken the initiative to provide relief to the people in the disaster. According to the Air Force, C-130 and IL-76 aircraft carrying relief material had left for Sri Lanka from Hindon Air Base near Delhi. According to information shared by the Air Force, these aircraft took off on the night of 29 November and landed in Colombo on Sunday (30 November) morning.

NDRF leaves with 21 tons of material

A total of 21 tonnes of relief material, more than 80 NDRF personnel and 8 tonnes of equipment have been sent in these aircraft. The items sent to Sri Lanka include essential rations, medicines, medical kits, Bhishma cubes and other disaster relief equipment. Along with delivering relief material through Indian Air Force planes, the rescue team of NDRF is also making efforts to safely rescue the Indians stranded in Sri Lanka. The IL-76 aircraft had already reached Colombo and the team would offload relief material as well as bring back stranded Indian citizens.

Helicopters and transport aircraft deployed for rapid relief operations

Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, teams are being deployed to carry out immediate rescue operations and relief materials are being supplied. To accelerate the pace of relief operations, the Indian Air Force has also deployed Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Colombo to rapidly deliver aid to the affected areas. Apart from this, IAF’s C-17, C-130 and IL-76 transport aircraft have been kept ready for the safe evacuation of Indian citizens on a large scale.

Rescue operations intensified in Tamil Nadu also

This campaign is not limited to Sri Lanka only. To intensify relief efforts in the coastal areas of southern India, relief and rescue operations have also been intensified in Tamil Nadu. Air Force planes have arrived here carrying necessary equipment and relief workers. C-17 Globemaster airlifted another NDRF team and heavy equipment from Pune to Chennai. As additional support, another C-17 aircraft is being loaded at Vadodara with the NDRF team and their equipment, which will be flown to Chennai.

The Indian Air Force has clarified that it is committed to saving lives and providing assistance to distressed neighboring countries at all possible times. Operation Sagar Bandhu has emerged as a sensitive and humanitarian example of friendship and regional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.