Cyclone Ditwah: PM Modi speaks to Sri Lankan president, assures support

New Delhi: India stands firmly beside Sri Lanka, where Cyclone Ditwah wreaked havoc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake.

“Spoke with President Dissanayake and conveyed heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of lives and the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. As a close and trusted friend, India stands firmly beside Sri Lanka and its people in this difficult hour,” Modi posted on X.

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 and Rescue as well as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to the country’s closest maritime neighbour.

In coordination with the Sri Lankan authorities, the Government of India immediately handed 9.5 tons of emergency rations from two Indian Navy Ships in Colombo; deployed three Indian Air Force aircrafts for airlifting another 31.5 tons 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 despatched another 12 tons of relief supplies on-board Indian Navy Ship Sukanya, the Ministry of External Affairs stated, adding: “A total of 53 tons of relief material has been handed over.”

The 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. Rescued persons included nationals of Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. 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. Over 150 persons have been rescued and assisted in these combined operations, which are continuing, the MEA added.

“India will continue to extend all necessary support under the ongoing Operation Sagar Bandhu for relief and rescue efforts and will stand with Sri Lanka in the days ahead as it undertakes rehabilitation and recovery,” Modi wrote on X after speaking to Dissanayake.

The MEA stated that the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded due to Cyclone Ditwah had also been undertaken via special Indian Air Force flights as well as commercial flights, with over 2000 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 people of Sri Lanka in this time of need, and remains committed to supporting the ongoing rescue, relief, and early recovery efforts,” the MEA stated.