New Delhi, November 29, 2025: India has dispatched search-and-rescue teams and relief materials to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, which has killed 123 people and left 130 missing.

• IAF Deployment:
  • An IL-76 transport aircraft carried 9 tonnes of relief material and two urban search-and-rescue teams (80 NDRF personnel) to Colombo.
  • A C-130J aircraft delivered 12 tonnes of humanitarian aid.
• Indian Navy Support:
  • Warships INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, stationed in Sri Lanka for an international fleet review, delivered 6.5 tonnes of rations and essential relief items.
• Relief Materials:
  • A total of 27 tonnes delivered by air and sea, including food items, tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat meals.
• Search-and-Rescue Teams:
  • Led by P.K. Tiwary, commandant of the 8th Battalion of the NDRF.
  • Equipped with inflatable boats, hydraulic cutting tools, communication gear, first-aid kits, and essential stores.
  • Teams include four rescue dogs for operations.
• Domestic Preparedness:
  • 14 NDRF teams positioned in vulnerable coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.
  • Additional teams deployed to Puducherry, Chennai, Pune, and Vadodara.
• Impact in Sri Lanka:
  • 44,000 people affected, many relocated to state-run welfare centers.
  • Authorities issued evacuation orders along the Kelani River.
• Indian High Commission Assistance:
  • Emergency help desk at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo.
  • Provides food, water, and assistance to stranded Indian citizens.
  • Emergency number: +94 773727832.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the coordinated Indian response as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, underscoring India’s role as a first responder to natural disasters in the Indian Ocean region.