India boosts cyclone Ditwah aid to Sri Lanka; Jaishankar confirms

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday stated that another Indian Air Force IAF IL76 has reached Colombo as part of Indias ongoing humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu at a time when the island nation is dealing with the escalating fallout of Cyclone DitwahSharing the update on X Jaishankar noted that the aircraft arrived with 9 tons relief material and 2 Urban Search amp Rescue Teams comprising 80 National Disaster Response Force Personnel He also wrote that A total of around 27 tons of relief material delivered by air and sea More is on the wayAnother IAF_MCC IL76 aircraft lands in Colombo with9 Tons Relief Material 2 Urban Search amp Rescue Teams comprising 80 National Disaster Response Force PersonnelA total of around 27 tons of relief material delivered by air and sea More is on the way hellip pictwittercom1YKjb0duzgmdash Dr S Jaishankar DrSJaishankar November 29 2025India has been sending specialised rescue teams and emergency supplies after Cyclone Ditwah triggered extensive flooding and landslides across Sri Lankas eastern region prompting Colombo to request urgent supportThe latest deployment continues the rapid assistance sent over the past two days to strengthen relief efforts on the groundAccording to the National Disaster Response Force NDRF two teams consisting of 80 rescuers were dispatched early Friday on the instructions of the Central governmentThey took off from Hindon Air Base at 0406 hrs in an IL76 and reached Colombo at 0810 hrs to begin coordinated rescue and relief work with Sri Lankan authorities marking the first major mobilisation in Indias assistance effortAlong with the personnel close to 21 tonnes of essential supplies including tents blankets mattresses dignity kits and other urgently needed material were transported to support communities hit hardest by the cycloneOfficials said this shipment formed part of a wider Indian effort to help Sri Lanka cope with widespread flooding infrastructure disruption and displacementIn a separate deployment two additional NDRF teams were flown to Colombo before sunrise on Wednesday as the cyclones impact intensifiedThe 80member group led by P K Tiwary Commandant of the 8th Battalion travelled with four canines aboard an IL76 at 406 am carrying specialised HADR equipment including inflatable boats hydraulic cutting and breaching tools communication gear medical kits and other essential material for search rescue and relief operationsThe Indian Air Force said in a latenight post on Thursday that Operation Sagar Bandhu was activated once the scale of destruction became evidentThe IAF stated that a C130 and an IL76 were sent from Hindan during the night of 2829 November 2025 transporting 21 tonnes of relief items more than 80 NDRF personnel and 8 tonnes of specialised equipment to Colombo forming a significant part of the initial emergency responseThe Air Force added that the consignment includes vital rations and essential stores required for immediate humanitarian assistance in the worstaffected districtsOfficials said the quick mobilisation aims to reinforce Sri Lankan agencies working to stabilise affected areas and restore critical servicesNew Delhi has emphasised that it stands firmly with Sri Lanka in this hour of need highlighting that the mission reflects Indias neighbourhoodfirst approach as relief operations continue to scale up across the islandThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever