India sends fresh batch of 50 tonne relief aid to quake-hit Myanmar; three more ships on way

New Delhi: India on Monday delivered a fresh tranche of 50 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar to help victims of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that killed over 2,000 people and injured 3,900.

The relief materials were taken to the Myanmarese city of Yangon by two Indian Navy ships -- INS Satpura and INS Savitri.

Three more Indian Navy ships -- INS Karmukh, INS Gharial and LCU-52 -- are enroute to Yangon with over 500 tonnes of additional aid material, officials said.

India mounted its relief mission named 'Operation Brahma' as a swift response to the devastation caused by the earthquake that hit Myanmar as well as Thailand on Friday.

On Saturday, New Delhi sent relief materials, rescue teams and medical equipment in five military aircraft to Myanmar to help victims of the earthquake.

Another C-130 aircraft of the Indian Air Force is expected to land in Mandalay on Tuesday with over 15 tons of relief materials, according to the Indian embassy in Myanmar.

"We will stay engaged with Myanmar authorities and stakeholders for continuing our support in the weeks ahead, as Myanmar assesses the full extent of the damage and begins its rehabilitation and recovery efforts," it said.

The massive earthquake and its aftershocks have affected people across Myanmar including in Sagaing, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Shan and Bago regions.

Under its rescue mission, New Delhi dispatched an 80-member search and rescue team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and military field hospitals to Myanmar.

A specialised rescue team from Indian Army's 50 (I) Para Brigade has also been swiftly deployed to Myanmar.

"India shares age-old, spiritual and civilizational people-to-people ties with Myanmar, also known in ancient India as "Brahmadesh". 'Operation Brahma' is therefore, an embodiment of India's offering of hope, support, and assistance for long-term recovery to the people of Myanmar," the Indian embassy said.

"As first responder to natural disasters in the region, India has swiftly mobilized emergency assistance, a team of rescue and medical professionals, relief materials including food, water, tents, medicines, and essential supplies to assist Myanmar and its people, during this difficult and critical hour of need," it said in a statement.

On Saturday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft delivered the first tranche of 15 tons of humanitarian assistance in Yangon.

On that night, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft landed in Nay Pyi Taw transporting an 80-member NDRF search and rescue team, and over 120 medical personnel, together with a total of 85 tonnes of HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) assistance.

"These were the first international assistance flights to Nay Pyi Taw. This HADR aid brought by these four aircraft was handed over by Ambassador Abhay Thakur in Naypyitaw in the presence of Ambassador Maung Maung Lynn of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar," the embassy said.

The NDRF team and the Indian Army medical team departed for Mandalay immediately thereafter.

"The NDRF team has been deployed to over a dozen affected sites in Mandalay since March 30. The Indian Army medical team has set up a field hospital at the old airport in Mandalay," the Indian mission added.

"Further augmenting our substantial assistance, two Indian Navy ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, carrying 31 tons and 19 tons of HADR aid respectively, arrived in Yangon on Monday," it said.

The aid was immediately handed over at the Thilawa port by Ambassador Abhay Thakur for distribution among the affected areas.

"Three more Indian Navy ships INS Karmukh, INS Gharial and LCU-52 are enroute to Yangon with over 500 tonnes of additional aid material. Another IAF C-130 aircraft is also expected to land directly in Mandalay tomorrow with over 15 tons of HADR," the embassy said.

"India's extensive, swift and efficient response has once again reaffirmed its role as the first responder in the region, consistently offering immediate humanitarian aid to neighboring countries struck by natural disasters," it added.