India has rescued and assisted over 150 people, including three Bangladesh nationals, through its combined operations, which are continuing in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah.
In coordination with the Sri Lankan Air Force, Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant and MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force conducted extensive rescue operations, airlifting stranded people, including pregnant women, infants and those critically injured.
The rescued people included nationals of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia and Pakistan.
“Three of them are Bangladesh nationals,” a senior official told UNB on Tuesday.
In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, which has caused severe flooding, loss of life and widespread disruption across Sri Lanka, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 to provide urgent Search & Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to their closest maritime neighbour.
In coordination with the Sri Lankan authorities, the Government of India immediately handed 9.5 tonnes of emergency rations from two Indian Navy Ships in Colombo; deployed three Indian Air Force aircrafts for airlifting another 31.5 tonnes of relief materials including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat food items, medicines and surgical equipment, two BHISHM cubes along with 5 persons medical team for on-site training, and 80 persons special Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to assist in rescue efforts; and dispatched another 12 tonnes of relief supplies on-board Indian Navy Ship Sukanya.
A total of 53 tonnes of relief material has been handed over, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
Evacuation of Indian nationals stranded due to Cyclone Ditwah was also undertaken via special Indian Air Force flights as well as commercial flights, with over 2,000 stranded Indians already brought back.
Guided by India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, India continues to be the First Responder, standing firmly in solidarity with the government and the people of Sri Lanka at this time of need, and remains committed to supporting the on-going rescue, relief, and early recovery efforts.
NDRF teams continue to carry out search-and-rescue operations in various severely affected and isolated regions of Sri Lanka, assisting flood-hit families and ensuring their immediate safety.
