In one of the strongest demonstrations of regional solidarity in recent years, India has launched a massive humanitarian and military rescue mission in Sri Lanka following the catastrophic onslaught of Cyclone Ditwah. The deadly storm, which battered the island nation over the weekend, has resulted in more than 350 fatalities and millions displaced, pushing the country into one of its worst humanitarian crises in decades.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), Navy and Army have been deployed under a coordinated emergency response programme, marking the beginning of a large-scale relief operation aimed at evacuating stranded civilians, providing medical support, and transporting essential supplies to the worst-affected regions. Visuals emerging from Sri Lanka capture Indian military aircraft evacuating terrified yet relieved civilians as helicopters, ground forces and ships work around the clock to stabilise conditions.
Operation Sagar Bandhu: India Extends a Lifeline in a Critical Hour
The relief activities are being carried out under Operation Sagar Bandhu, a specially activated humanitarian initiative designed to provide immediate assistance to neighbouring countries during natural disasters. The mission involves an extensive deployment of resources from Chetak helicopters to naval medical teams and IAF rescue units.
One of the centrepieces of the operation is the involvement of the INS Vikrant, India’s flagship aircraft carrier, from which Chetak helicopters have been conducting dozens of search-and-rescue sorties over flooded towns and inaccessible rural belts. These helicopters have played a vital role in reaching areas where collapsed bridges, submerged roads and persistent landslides have made ground transport impossible.
Each sortie has brought back groups of stranded civilians families separated by the storm, elderly individuals unable to flee, and schoolchildren trapped in disaster-hit districts. By early Monday, military officials confirmed that thousands had already been airlifted, with more evacuations scheduled as weather conditions stabilise.
Indian Air Force Takes Lead in Mass Evacuation
Photos circulating widely on social media show a large crowd of Sri Lankan residents boarding a giant Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft, a heavy-lift plane capable of carrying out bulk evacuations. IAF personnel are seen guiding civilians into the aircraft some carrying backpacks, others clutching their children tightly, many visibly exhausted after days of fear and uncertainty.
The IL-76 fleet has been critical in transporting not only evacuees but also tonnes of relief materials including:
- Emergency medical kits
- Water purification units
- Food packets and dry rations
- Blankets, tents and temporary shelters
- Communication equipment for disaster teams
IAF officials stated that these flights are continuing in rotation, ensuring constant movement of supplies in and stranded civilians out of the disaster-hit zones.
Naval Teams on the Ground: Medical Aid, Clearing Operations and Survivors’ Support
While the Air Force handles the air-lift operations, the Indian Navy has deployed specialised rescue divers, disaster response units and medical specialists. Teams are operating across the coastal belts and flood-riddled districts where survivors have suffered severe injuries, water contamination issues and shortages of essential medicines.
Field hospitals have been set up overnight, with Indian doctors providing emergency care to cyclone survivors many of whom had gone days without medical attention. Elderly patients, women in labour and injured children have been brought in by naval boats from isolated areas cut off by rising waters.
Simultaneously, Navy engineering teams are working alongside Sri Lankan authorities to clear debris, restore short-term access routes, and rebuild broken communication channels, which had collapsed under the cyclone’s powerful winds.
Indian Army Supports Ground Rescue and Rehabilitation
On land, the Indian Army has deployed multiple divisions specialising in disaster response. Soldiers are assisting local authorities in:
- Clearing uprooted trees and damaged infrastructure
- Setting up community shelters
- Distributing ration packets
- Transporting injured civilians
- Supporting local police with crowd management and law-and-order efforts
The presence of highly trained personnel has helped restore order in some of the worst-hit districts where panic and displacement had escalated rapidly following the cyclone.
Sri Lanka Grateful for India’s Swift Response
Sri Lankan officials have expressed deep gratitude for India’s quick mobilisation of military resources. According to officials overseeing relief operations, India was among the first countries to respond to their urgent request for international assistance.
Local communities, many of whom lost homes, livelihoods and loved ones, have been seen thanking Indian personnel as evacuations continue. Video clips show people waving to IAF crews and naval officers, highlighting the emotional weight of the assistance during a time of widespread devastation.
Humanitarian agencies have also commended the scale and speed of India’s operational readiness, noting that early intervention can significantly reduce casualties, as many survivors were trapped in collapsing structures or isolated by floods.
A Disaster That Shook a Nation
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall with unprecedented intensity, unleashing:
- Winds exceeding 200 km/h
- Torrential rainfall that caused flash floods
- Massive coastal destruction
- Uprooted trees and widespread power outages
- Landslides in hilly regions
Emergency responders in Sri Lanka described scenes of chaos roads washed away, communication towers toppled, entire villages submerged, and families crammed into overcrowded shelters with little food or clean water.
Meteorologists say the cyclone ranks among the most destructive storms to hit Sri Lanka in the past two decades, raising concerns about climate-related extreme weather patterns in the region.
With millions displaced, relocation camps are overflowing. Essential services remain strained, prompting calls for long-term international cooperation for reconstruction.
India’s Humanitarian Diplomacy in the Region
India’s quick action reflects its broader regional approach of Neighbourhood First—a policy that prioritises humanitarian support and diplomatic cooperation with countries in South Asia. Over the years, India has extended similar aid during crises in Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, and even distant nations during natural disasters and pandemics.
Operation Sagar Bandhu is yet another chapter in this ongoing commitment.
Diplomatic experts note that India’s assistance goes beyond strategic interests; it is rooted in deep cultural and historical ties shared between the two nations. The outpouring of support further cements the relationship between New Delhi and Colombo at a time when Sri Lanka is still recovering from economic setbacks and political instability.
Relief Operations Continue; More Aid to Follow
As weather conditions slowly improve, Indian authorities have confirmed that rescue operations will continue until every vulnerable civilian is safely relocated. Additional aircraft, medical teams and engineering units may be sent if required.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations warn that the post-cyclone phase will be challenging, with thousands needing food, shelter, clean drinking water and long-term rehabilitation.
India is expected to coordinate with Sri Lankan officials and international agencies to ensure sustained support over the coming weeks.
A Mission Built on Solidarity and Shared Humanity
As images of Indian rescue operations spread online, they paint a powerful picture of solidarity military personnel helping frightened children into aircraft, doctors treating survivors in makeshift tents, and helicopters flying low over ravaged landscapes to search for those still missing.
In a crisis of this scale, the decisive intervention of the Indian Air Force, Navy and Army has offered hope to thousands of families facing unimaginable loss. While Sri Lanka begins the long road to recovery, India’s support stands as a reminder that regional partnerships and humanitarian action can make the difference between tragedy and survival.
