India Rushes Humanitarian Aid to Neighbouring Sri Lanka
In a swift response to a major natural disaster, India has initiated Operation Sagar Bandhu to provide critical humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. The move comes as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah ravaged the island nation, resulting in a confirmed death toll of at least 80 people and triggering widespread devastation.
Catastrophic Impact of Cyclone Ditwah
The extreme weather, which intensified last week, brought torrential downpours that led to severe floods and devastating landslides. Official reports confirm that more than 600 houses have been damaged, with over 200,000 individuals from 61,000 families affected by the calamity.
The situation remains critical, with at least 34 people still missing. The central hills, particularly areas like Badulla, have been severely impacted by landslides, accounting for over 35 confirmed deaths. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) had confirmed 69 deaths by 6 am on Saturday, but relief officials in Kandy warned the actual toll could be significantly higher, with unverified reports suggesting more than 50 deaths in that district alone by late Friday.
Adding to the crisis, relentless rains caused the Kelani and Attanagalu rivers to rise to dangerous levels, prompting warnings of an "unprecedented disaster situation" in the Western Province. The infrastructure damage has been extensive, with around 35% of the island losing electricity, affecting approximately seven million customers of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
India's Swift Relief Operation Unfolds
India's relief mission swung into action on Friday, with the Indian Air Force's C-130 J aircraft landing at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport around 1:30 am. The aircraft carried approximately 12 tons of essential supplies, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat food items.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar confirmed the operation's launch on social media platform X, stating, "#OperationSagarBandhu unfolds." The Indian Navy also deployed significant assets, with the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri transporting the first batch of relief materials.
Faced with the escalating crisis, the Sri Lankan government took the precautionary measure of closing all government offices and schools on Friday to facilitate relief operations and ensure public safety.
Cyclone Ditwah's Path and Indian Alert
As Cyclone Ditwah moves away from Sri Lanka, Indian meteorological authorities have issued high alerts for the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the cyclonic storm has moved north-northwestwards from Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal at a speed of 7 kmph.
The weather system is expected to reach the southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by the early morning of November 30. Several Indian districts are now under Red and Orange warnings, anticipating heavy rainfall, powerful winds, and potential flooding as the cyclone approaches the Indian coastline.
