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Colombo: In response to the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, India has dispatched a movable modular bridge system along with hundreds of water purification units to assist Sri Lanka. This initiative aims to reconnect isolated communities and restore vital services, as confirmed by the Indian mission in Colombo on Thursday.

The cyclone has caused extensive flooding, landslides, and significant infrastructure damage across Sri Lanka, isolating numerous districts and overwhelming the country's disaster response capabilities.

As of Wednesday evening, the death toll has reached at least 479, with 350 individuals reported missing due to the catastrophic weather events that began on November 16.

A C-17 Globemaster aircraft from the Indian Air Force delivered the Bailey Bridge system and 500 water purification units on Wednesday, following a formal request from the Sri Lankan government, according to a statement from the Indian High Commission.

The bridge can be set up in just a few hours, providing a crucial replacement for damaged structures and enhancing access for emergency services in areas affected by floods and landslides.

The aircraft also transported 22 personnel, including engineers for bridge installation and a medical team to support the previously deployed field hospital.

In a recent social media update, the mission highlighted ongoing digital collaboration in disaster management between India and Sri Lanka.

During a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Bhaskar Katamneni, Secretary of Real Time Governance in Andhra Pradesh, presented a 'digital toolkit' that outlines best practices in disaster preparedness and response to Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the Sri Lankan President on Digital Economy, along with the GovTech team.

Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India has been providing humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, utilizing air, sea, and ground operations to deliver essential relief to those impacted.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's unwavering support in a social media post on Wednesday.

Officials in Sri Lanka have indicated that the humanitarian crisis is worsening.

As of Wednesday night, over 1.6 million individuals from more than 455,000 families have been affected, according to Jayathissa Munasinghe, Assistant Secretary of the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC).

The government has established 1,347 relief centers, providing shelter to over 188,000 people.

Bandula Herath, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), reported that approximately 75% of mobile coverage has been restored.

While none of the island's 9,332 communication towers were damaged, 16,926 distribution points remain impacted due to power outages and fuel shortages for generators.

Authorities have reported that the number of accidental deaths among relief workers has risen to eight.

A 41-year-old employee of the electricity board died from electrocution during restoration efforts. Previously, a Sri Lankan Air Force pilot lost his life during an airdrop mission, and five Navy personnel along with a worker from the Road Development Authority also perished during rescue operations.

Officials estimate the economic losses from the cyclone to be between USD 6 billion and 7 billion, which represents approximately 3-5% of Sri Lanka's GDP.