India Extends Helping Hand to Sri Lanka Amidst Cyclone Devastation
As the island nation of Sri Lanka grapples with one of its most severe natural disasters in recent history, India has stepped in with immediate support. On Friday, New Delhi launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a dedicated humanitarian mission to assist its neighbour, which has been battered by the fierce winds and torrential rains of Cyclone Ditwah.
The situation on the ground is grim, with official reports confirming that at least 153 people have lost their lives due to widespread flooding and landslides. The destruction is extensive, particularly in the Western Province, where rivers like the Kelani and Attanagalu are overflowing.
Rapid Indian Response
Demonstrating its "Neighbourhood First" policy, India mobilized significant military assets to deliver aid. The Indian Navy has deployed its aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, alongside the frontline vessel INS Udaigiri to transport relief materials. Furthermore, an Indian Air Force C-130J transport aircraft touched down at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport in the early hours of Saturday.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the mission on social media platform X, confirming that approximately 12 tons of essential supplies had landed. The consignment includes ready-to-eat meals, hygiene kits, blankets, tarpaulins, and tents to shelter those displaced by the storm.
Devastation Across the Island
The impact of Cyclone Ditwah has been catastrophic. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Sri Lanka reported that over 200,000 citizens across 61,000 families are suffering the aftereffects of the storm. While the official death toll stands at 153, local officials in the Kandy district fear the numbers could be higher as recovery teams reach isolated areas.
Infrastructure has taken a massive hit, with roughly 35 percent of the country plunged into darkness. The electricity outage has affected nearly seven million people, and repair works are facing severe delays due to relentless downpours.
Alert for India’s East Coast
While the system moves away from Sri Lanka, it poses a new threat to the Indian coastline. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that Cyclone Ditwah is moving north-northwestwards across the Bay of Bengal. Red and Orange alerts have been issued for coastal regions in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, with the storm expected to make landfall by the morning of November 30.
