Colombo/New Delhi, November 30, 2025 – In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, which has devastated parts of Sri Lanka and killed 153 people, India has dispatched search and rescue teams, relief materials, and helicopters to assist in humanitarian efforts, as hundreds remain missing.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) sent an Il-76 transport aircraft carrying two urban search and rescue teams—comprising 80 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and four rescue dogs—along with nine tonnes of relief materials, including food, tents, and blankets, to Colombo under Operation Sagar Bandhu, according to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Another C-130J transport aircraft delivered 12 tonnes of additional humanitarian aid, while Indian Navy warships INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, already in Sri Lanka for an international fleet review, transported 6.5 tonnes of rations and essential supplies.

Search and Rescue Operations

The deployed NDRF teams are equipped with inflatable boats, hydraulic cutting tools, communication gear, and medical first-aid kits, allowing them to assist in flood rescue and evacuation efforts. They have already begun relief operations in Kochchikade, one of the worst-affected areas in Sri Lanka’s western province.

Four helicopters have been mobilised for the operations:

• Two Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant, operating alongside Sri Lankan Air Force personnel, have rescued several stranded residents.
• Two Mi-17 helicopters of the IAF arrived on Saturday evening with additional personnel and supplies to aid search-and-rescue missions.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo has also set up an emergency help desk at Bandaranaike International Airport, providing assistance to stranded Indian citizens and coordinating evacuation flights. Indian citizens requiring support can call +94 773727832.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor confirmed that the IAF would operate evacuation flights to bring stranded Indian passengers, including those from Thiruvananthapuram, back safely to India. Acting High Commissioner Satyanjal Pandey assured assistance to all Indian nationals affected by the cyclone.

Humanitarian Impact in Sri Lanka

Torrential rains and flooding triggered by Cyclone Ditwah affected nearly 44,000 people in Sri Lanka, many of whom have been relocated to state-run welfare centres after their homes were destroyed. Evacuation orders have been issued for residents along the Kelani River in Colombo due to worsening flood conditions.

The cyclone made landfall on Wednesday, but its effects—including heavy rainfall, flooding, and property destruction—have been felt across the island since Monday. Authorities continue to search for the 200 people reported missing in the wake of the storm.

India’s Disaster Preparedness

Domestically, the NDRF has positioned 14 teams in vulnerable coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Mayiladuthurai, with 10 additional teams dispatched from Pune and Vadodara to Chennai. Coordination between the IMD, NDMA, Ministry of External Affairs, and state governments ensures a seamless response both domestically and abroad.

This rapid mobilization underscores India’s role as a first responder in the Indian Ocean region, offering immediate humanitarian assistance to neighbouring countries during natural disasters.