The Indian Air Force delivered 21 tonnes of relief material, along with over 80 NDRF personnel and eight tonnes of equipment, to Sri Lanka on Saturday (November 29) under Operation Sagar Bandhu, as the country reels from deadly floods that have displaced several people across the country.
“In the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah across Sri Lanka, India swiftly launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to bolster relief efforts,” the Indian Air Force said in a social media post.
The Indian Air Force promptly deployed one C-130 and one IL-76 from Hindon Air Base on the night of intervening night of Friday (November 28) and Saturday (November 29), airlifting 21 tonnes of relief material along with over 80 NDRF personnel and eight tonnes of equipment. Essential rations and critical supplies have been delivered to support affected communities, it said.
“Reaffirming the spirit of Neighbourhood first, India stands firmly with Sri Lanka in this hour of need,” it added.
A C-130 aircraft carrying essential food items and sanitary supplies reached Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport at around 1:30 a.m. and was received by the Indian High Commission officials and Sri Lanka Air Force officers.
The operation was launched by India on Friday for Sri Lanka, as over 100 people died in devastating floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. The first tranche of relief materials was handed over after the consignments were transported by the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri to the island nation.
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The Disaster Management Centre announced Saturday that Cyclone Ditwah’s torrential rains and flooding have claimed 123 lives across Sri Lanka, with another 130 people still unaccounted for.
